Delma Iles is a Miami institution. She is the Artistic Director and Founder of Miami Momentum Dance Company, one of the region’s oldest dance companies, and she is also a teacher at Miami Dade College. This is where Iles shapes young, aspiring dancers into artists who help define and propel Miami’s flourishing dance scene. That’s not all. Iles is also responsible for teaching kids how to count and think by watching people dance. In essence, she’s a multidisciplinary teacher in one.

Momentum Dance Company.

This year marks Momentum’s 31st season, a season grounded with an established repertory of traditional modern dance with a strong focus on works appropriate for children or those of us who’ve retained our child-like qualities. The season, which began January 5th, runs through May 13th. Highlights below.

On Friday, January 25, bring your kids to Counting Songs, where they’ll learn to become mathematicians in a “fun, action-packed 30-minute performance that teaches younger children their numbers 1-8 while simultaneously teaching the multiplication tables for the same numbers to older kids.” Counting Songs employs jazz, rock, reggae, classical and rap to entertain (and teach) kids match. Local composer Devin Marsh composed a song for each number as Momentum’s dancers bring the music and magic to life.

On Saturday, May 11th, come hand out with Hans Christen Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling.” It’s a classic and we’ve all felt like an ugly duck at one point in our life. “The Ugly Duckling” teaches kids a vital lesson — it’s what’s inside that counts most and, most importantly, we must find a way to express that internal beauty at all costs. “The Ugly Duckling” perseveres and discovers through her journey that she is not an ugly duck — not at all. She’s a beautiful swan worthy of love and belonging.

For information on the events above and for a complete listing of Momentum’s 2012-2013 performances, visit www.momentumdance.com. “Counting Songs,” Playhouse in the Park performance for Artz-N-The-Hood, Carrie Meek Community Center, Hadley Park, 1350 NW 50 Street, Miami; 305-758-1577. Free admission. “Ugly Duckling”, Children’s Library Series Program IV, Coral Gables Public Library, Segovia Ave., Coral Gables; 305-442-8706. Free admission.