Entertainment shorts

AITKIN -- The Great River Strings will present "Shall We Dance?" 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the First Lutheran Church in Aitkin and 2 p.m. Sunday at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Onamia.

Admission is free but donations will be accepted.

"'Shall We Dance?' traces the history of classical music and dance over the past 600 years," conductor Richard Aulie said. "From the court dances of Renaissance time to folk dances of many different countries to the ballets of Tschaikovsky to more popular dances like the tango and polka, there should be something in this program to get everyone moving again."

'Now You See It Now You Don't' at CLC Gallery

The work of mixed media artist M.A. Papanek-Miller will be on display Tuesday-Dec. 15 in "Now You See It Now You Don't" at the Central Lakes College Gallery in Brainerd.

The artist, who will present a lecture at 1 p.m. Nov. 18 in Room E425 at CLC, is a professor of visual arts at Bemidji State University. She holds a master of fine arts degree from the University of Houston, a master's degree from Northern Illinois University and a bachelor of science degree from Illinois State University, all in visual arts.

The Chicago-born Papanek-Miller has exhibited from California to New York and she is represented by Baas Gallery in Seattle. In 1996, one of her works was among those selected for permanent display at CLC.

She examines the tensions between the traditional rural landscape ("lived") and the urban view of this landscape ("desired") through an artistic layering process in her work. Her works use collage, acrylics, gouache and oils on paper.

Stroia Ballet to present 'Nutcracker'

The Stroia Ballet Co. of central Minnesota will present "The Nutcracker" for the 21st straight year at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at Tornstrom Auditorium, Washington Middle School, in Brainerd.

Tickets, priced at $10 for adults and $7 for children 12 and younger, are available at Bridge of Harmony in Brainerd or at the door.