Re-Cap Part 2: Feedback from the Embassies

18 United States Embassies and Consulates hosted the 2012 DanceMotion USA tours around the world.  These Embassies operated as the program's gateway to the cultures, audiences, traditions, students, and collaborators that each dance company would encounter and work with. 

A key mission of DanceMotion USA is to increase exposure to American dance abroad, but also to exchange with other cultures and open up conversations about cross-cultural understanding.  Despite differences in language and customs, how are we the same and what can we share? What moves us as artists and people? And through creative, collaborative dialogue, how can we develop an appreciation for our differences?

Here's what some of the Foreign Service Officers from the tour countries had to say about the program's impact:

In the Middle East:

Rennie Harris Puremovement's last performance in Israel was attended by US Ambassador Daniel B. Shapiro.  "It was a real opportunity for us to show a part of American culture that helps build bridges and helps find commonality between people of different backgrounds," he said in a video about the event.

American Day at Ben Gurion University, Be'er Sheva
(©US Embassy Tel Aviv)


Jackie Stein, from the American Center in Jerusalem, said that it was the largest and most successful outreach program for the center.  She described how afterwards, "the audience refused to go home, and crowded the stage to meet the dancers."

In Asia:

The US Embassy in Vietnam has put a particular emphasis on cross-cultural exchange and understanding, and David Moyer of the Embassy in Hanoi went on national television with the following statement:   "The U.S. Embassy has been working very hard to.. find different ways that the two countries can discover things we have in common, and learn from eachother... it is not just about bringing American dance to Vietnam. They [Trey McIntyre Project] are here working with Vietnamese artists, learning their techniques, and their styles, and hopefully incorporating that into their own styles. So it was really a creative process, they were learning new techniques and new ideas."

The Public Affairs Officer in Seoul, Korea invited Trey McIntyre Project for an informal performance in their home - and it turned into a collaborative improvisation session in the living room!

In Africa:

BAM and DanceMotion USA were personally thanked by the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles A. Ray, saying the program left a "lasting impression on the city [of Bulawayo]."  The Embassy in Harare is working on furthering the connections they made, with plans to bring Jazz Tap Ensemble's technical director back to the country to help with efforts help with professionalization of the arts industry in Zimbabwe.

With the Mayor of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe



In Central Asia / Eastern Europe:

The US Ambassador to Turkmenistan felt that the program "set a new standard" for cultural diplomacy in that country. US Embassy personnel in Turkmenistan were overjoyed with the results, and were convinced of the need for more exposure to such events, especially ones that involved direct exchange with Turkmen dancers. 

Jeffrey Sexton, Counselor for Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan, said that they "could not have had a better group of cultural ambassadors", and noted that the program would be one of the highlights of his time working in Kazakhstan. 



Thanks to everyone who made this continuing program possible!  The US Embassies in each country were incredible in their efforts to make these arts exchanges a great success.   We look forward to expanding our reach in 2013!