KINGSFORD – Donna’s School of Dance proudly announces the arrival of Prague Dance Studio Light this August. Prague Dance Studio Light will visit the Iron Mountain-Kingsford area from Wednesday, Aug. 12 to Friday, Aug 14.

Twenty-one members of the Prague Dance Studio Light will stay in private host homes while visiting the area, according to Donna Schinderle, owner of Donna’s School of Dance. A dance studio committee is making arrangements for the group’s visit.

During their visit, the Prague Dance Studio Light dancers will proudly present a dance performance at the Lake Antoine band shell on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. There will be a free will offering to help defer costs.

The Prague Dance Studio Light from the Czech Republic is one of several European musical groups that will visit Michigan during 2015 as part of Blue Lake’s International Exchange Program. Miss Donna is excited that her studio was chosen by Blue Lake Fine Arts to host their visit to our area. Blue Lake is best known for the Fine Arts Camp it operates each summer, about six miles east of Whitehall. More than 5,500 talented young musicians, mostly from Michigan and other mid-western states, will attend Blue Lake during this summer. Blue Lake’s International Exchange Program began in 1969 when a 90- voice choir toured England, Belgium, and Germany.

Since then more than 10,000 high school musicians wearing Blue Lake uniforms have visited 650 communities in England, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Hungary, and Liechtenstein. In return, nearly 10,000 members of 550 European bands, orchestras, choirs, and dance groups have come to Michigan to perform in communities throughout Michigan and the Midwest. While touring Europe, Blue Lake groups stay in private homes with host families and the foreign groups do the same while visiting Michigan.

Last year, Blue Lake groups were hosted by more than 1000 families in Denmark, Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, while 400 families in 40 Michigan communities hosted members of six European groups that visited Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

Nearly 1,000 talented young American and European musicians are expected to participate in the 48th annual Blue Lake International Exchange Program during 2015, according to Bill McFarlin, director of the International Exchange Program.

“It will be a wonderful way to learn and share culture, dance, and tradition with each other. The dancers from Prague will offer a dance class and sharing time with dancers from Donna’s School of Dance during their stay. The performance on Thursday, Aug. 13, is sure to be a special treat, with a meet and greet afterward. Come and welcome our visitors from Prague, and give them a warm welcome to our community,” said a spokesperson.