Three rural Northern Minnesota schools will compete at the Minnesota State High School League State Dance Tournament Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14-15.
Aitkin, Brainerd and Crosby-Ironton qualified in both categories: jazz and high kick. In each category, the top three teams from each of the four sections advance to state.
The jazz competition will take place Friday, with high kick to follow on Saturday. Performances begin at 11:30 a.m. each day. Class A awards are scheduled for 5:30 p.m., with Class 2A and 3A awards at 7:15 p.m.
The full schedule, plus details on tickets and streaming, is available in the MSHSL Spectator Guide.
Aitkin will perform its jazz routine at 12:47 p.m. Friday and its kick routine at 12:40 p.m. Saturday. The team placed third in jazz and second in kick in the Section 4A competition.
Brainerd will perform its jazz routine at 2:44 p.m. Friday and its kick routine at 2:20 p.m. Saturday. The team won the high kick competition at the Section 4AAA competition and took second in jazz.
Crosby-Ironton will perform its jazz routine at 12:19 p.m. Friday and its kick routine at 11:44 a.m. Saturday. The team won both categories at the Section 4A competition.
-
Plus: Leech Lake Tribal College selects three finalists in president search; and four Northland teams are heading to the boys basketball state tournament. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEParents and community members gathered at the J.W. Smith Elementary gymnasium for the Q&A session. The School Board will host a public hearing on March 24, 2026. -
Andrew Dziengel/KAXEThe Bagley Area Arts Collaborative presents the first “Afternoon Filled with Art” with three locations featuring local art. Participating artists join “Area Voices” to discuss the event. -
Contributed/Leech Lake Tribal CollegeLane Azure, Margaret "Maggie" Ross and Beatrice Bridglall will visit the college March 30-April 1, 2026, with a public forum for each candidate. -
During the Phenology Report for the week of March 17, 2026, Staff Phenologist John Latimer remarks on sugary icicles, brooding ravens, and robins foraging in tire tracks. -
Contributed/Pequot Lakes High School via FacebookCherry, Pequot Lakes and Red Lake County are repeat qualifiers to the boys basketball state tournament. Grand Rapids is making its first appearance since 2017. -
Contributed/Chad KaddatzDuring the week of March 17, 2026, we enjoy reports of Great Blue Herons, snow, and Saw-whet Owls. Staff phenologist John Latimer responds. -
Plus: the Bemidji City Council rejected Northern Township's wastewater connection request; and the Brainerd City Council selected its next Chief of Police.
-
After a dispute with the soon-to-be city over which is best suited to install sewer around Lake Bemidji, the Bemidji Council reaffirmed its policy of "no connection without annexation." -
Contributed/Summit School Facebook pageKids Count on Us, a statewide organization of child care providers, hosts the event 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 2026, in the Northwest Technical College commons.
