US DANCE COMPANY PERFORMING IN SURABAYA

Jakarta, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - The Oberlin Dance Collective (ODC), an ensemble from DanceMotion USA which is making a Southeast Asian tour, arrived in Surabaya on Monday after performing at Salihara Theater in Jakarta. on Jan 29-31.

Sponsored by the US State Department, the group is making the tour to promote cultural exchange in Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia, Myamar and Thailand.

The company arrived in Surabaya on January 31, and is also to conduct a workshop on February 1 and perform on February 2.

The ODC's artistic director, Brenda Way, said she was pleased the group could perform in Indonesia , including at the US Consul General Carryn McClelland'ss residence in Surabaya on Sunday.
"Indonesian culture is very close to dancing, therefore we are pleased with the local audience's reactions to American dances, because they are not so representative of American arts," she said.

She said dancing wais a universal language that speaks trough the differences between Indonesia and America but still have one thing in common.

"I like Indonesian dances like the 'Saman' from Aceh and other beautiful Javanese dances," Way said.

The ODC Company group includes 10 dancers, namely Vanessa C. Thiessen, Elizabeth A. Farotte, Anne C. Zivolich, Dennis Adams, Daniel R. Santos, Aaron D. Perlstein, Quilet Rarang, Yayoi Kambara, Jeremy K. Smith, and Corey M. Brady.