Vice versa

Trey McIntyre Project at Pianofabriek

In an ordinary dance studio in Saint Gilles' lively community center, Pianofabriek, something far beyond ordinary took place on March 22, 2011. An onlooker might hardly realize that he or she was watching a group of recent immigrants to Brussels receive a lesson from a professional dance troupe, if it weren't for their matching t-shirts and their unparalleled and unmistakable ability to dance.

But this is what the dancers of the Trey McIntyre Project were hoping for: to interact rather than to perform. During the last stop in Europe on the company's five-week tour, the dancers of the Trey McIntyre Project found themselves in Brussels, through the auspices of the U.S. Embassy, leading an informal workshop for members of the local immigrant community, who have come to Belgium from Congo, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, among other countries. They were brought together by the local integration organization Bon vzw. 

Despite the potentially disastrous language barrier, both the morning and afternoon workshops were an undisputed success, a testament to the ability of arts to transcend cultural barriers. Conversing via a translator even felt cumbersome at times, with both the dancers and the students eager to communicate with their bodies. Any sentiment of reticence dissipated as quickly as the group of ten professional dancers were able to learn the steps to authentic dances from the immigrantsí various countries of origin, evidence that dance can indeed bring together people of diverse cultures and produce a meaningful exchange. The companyís dancers claimed that, similarly to music, dance is an international language, and the need for translation ceased when the dancing began. 

These informal but influential appearances are just one example of this American dance companyís efforts to promote cultural exchange. After setting up their studio in Boise, Idaho -- an eyebrow raising decision in its own right -- the dancers made every effort to interact with their community, spearheading an endeavor to develop an appreciation for the arts in a region of the country most often associated, though in jest, with potatoes. This effort included McIntyre's decision to choreograph a piece to honor the Basque culture, given that Boise is home to the largest Basque population in America. In response to this outreach, the people of Boise treat Trey McIntyre and his dancers like local celebrities, and the city bestowed its largest arts grant to date to the Trey McIntyre Project. 

The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is well aware of the promise of dance in cultural diplomacy, having already appointed the Trey McIntyre Project as a Cultural Ambassador of the U.S., a role that will take the company to China, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines in 2012. The company's stay in Brussels was the perfect test for the dancers, who, just hours after their afternoon workshop in Saint Gilles, arrived at Ambassador Howard Gutman's residence for an entirely different breed of performance. Their transition from interacting with immigrants to mingling with members of the Belgian political, business and social-cultural communities was as flawless as the performance. 

Trey McIntyre allowed those in attendance to witness the creative process, choreographing a piece on the spot, to be executed masterfully by two of the company's dancers: Chanel DaSilva and Brett Perry. By delivering a stripped down performance, sans costumes or lights, McIntyre added a unique and intimate dimension to his work, again allowing the audience to feel as if they are interacting rather than just watching a performance. Juxtaposed with the success of the workshops from earlier in the day, and judging by the lengthy standing ovation at the end of the evening performance,  the dancers have clearly mastered the art of communicating with any audience, adapting it as part of their craft.

For more information regarding Pianofabriek, visit their website here.

For more information regarding Bon vzw, visit their website here.

For more information regarding Trey McIntyre Project, visit their website here.

To see more pictures from the event, visit Ambassador Gutman's website.