U.S. Department of State Announces New Line Up of Cultural Diplomats to Kick-Off Season Two of DanceMotion USA

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announced today that the second season of DanceMotion USA^SM will send four contemporary American dance companies to 14 countries and territories in the Asia Pacific, Middle East, South Central Asia region and Africa.

Dance companies that will serve as citizen diplomats during the second season include:

• Trey McIntyre Project, a contemporary dance troupe based in Boise, Idaho, will tour in China, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines
• Rennie Harris Puremovement is a hip-hop dance company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which will tour in Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and Jordan
• Sean Curran Company is a contemporary dance company based in New York, New York, which will tour in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, and Turkmenistan
• Jazz Tap Ensemble, based in Los Angeles, California, which will tour in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo

Building off of the success of the inaugural season of DanceMotionUSA^SM, the Department has enhanced the program by including an exchange, which will bring an international dance company to the United States to share their culture as well as learn about American culture.

The Brooklyn Academy of Music was selected through an open grant competition to implement season two of DanceMotionUSA^SM. Tours are slated to fan out across the globe beginning in January 2012, when members of the selected U.S. dance companies will perform and participate in educational outreach activities, including workshops, master classes, and stage and arts management sessions.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) promotes international mutual understanding through a wide range of academic, cultural, private-sector, professional, and sports exchange programs. ECA exchanges engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes, and emerging leaders in many fields in the United States and in more than 160 countries. Alumni of ECA exchanges comprise over one million people around the world, including more than 50 Nobel Laureates and more than 300 current or former heads of state and government.