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🎨 Legacy Lectures: Drawn from Here Featuring Dancer, Arts Advocate & Community Builder Molly JohnstonTuesday, January 27, 2026 from 4:30-6:30 PM
Artist Lecture at 5:15 PM đź“Ť Kaddatz Galleries, Fergus Falls
Step into the dynamic world of Molly Johnston, a Battle Lake-based dancer, educator, and community organizer who has spent over a decade bringing the transformative power of dance to rural Minnesota.
Since 2015, Molly has co-hosted the annual DanceBARN Festival with her dance partner, Ayumi Shafer, welcoming over 120 professional dancers from across the country to Battle Lake for a week-long celebration of movement, creativity, and connection. Rooted in reciprocity and rural pride, DanceBARN engages community members through free public performances, artistic collaborations, and dance classes—proving that world-class art thrives in rural places.
In Molly's Own Words: "DanceBARN is rooted in the idea that the national dance community can engage with rural areas in reciprocal ways, celebrating rural places and people while offering opportunities for the community to learn from dancers who come from predominantly urban areas and diverse backgrounds."
As the Rural Program Manager at Springboard for the Arts in Fergus Falls, Molly supports rural artists and culture bearers through initiatives like the Rural Regenerator Fellowship and the Falls Community Arts Exchange. She also teaches modern dance at the Fergus Falls School of Dance—the same studio where she took her first ballet class as a first-grader—and finds inspiration each week in her teenage students as they explore what it means to be human through movement.
When she's not advocating for the arts, Molly is a proud parent to two boys—Ellery, 9, an aspiring engineer, and Westby, 5, who never goes anywhere without his stuffed bunny. She and her partner, Robbie, love waterskiing, exploring Glendalough State Park, and traveling whenever they can.
Come meet this passionate artist and organizer who has dedicated her life to building community through dance and discover how she continues to strengthen the artistic fabric of our rural region.
About the Series: "Legacy Lectures: Drawn from Here" honors the legacy of Charles Beck by showcasing the rich artistic talent that has emerged from our region and exploring how these artists live out their artistic calling while maintaining meaningful ties to their communities of origin. We hope this offering inspires our long-time patrons and young budding artists alike!
🎟️ FREE and open to all with light refreshments provided.
Made possible by the Inga M. Johnson Endowment Fund established with West Central Initiative
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
111 W Lincoln Ave, Fergus Falls, MN, United States, Minnesota 56537
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
