Ohio Dominican to Host International Art Event

March 24, 2004

COLUMBUS, OHIO - Ohio Dominican University will celebrate the diversity of its campus with an International Arts Event on Tuesday, March 30, 2004. The event, sponsored by the University and the American International Membership (AIM), will present international cultures through music and dance.

"Ohio Dominican University currently has students from India, Germany, Japan, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Zambia, Bolivia, Rwanda, South Korea and China here on our campus," said Darrell Albon, Director of ODU's International Office. "We try to take advantage of that diversity as a learning tool, so that students can be exposed to the various cultures of their classmates."

The International Arts Event will kick off with a performance by Eric "the FISH" Paton, a Taiko Drummer and an International Fashion Show. The evening will cap off with dance performances from The Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance, and Zivili, a Croatian dance troup.

Eric "the FISH" Paton -- an accomplished artist who grew up in Japan -- is the leader and business manager of Yumbambé Salsa Jazz. He is also an artist in residence with: the Ohio Arts Council, the Artists-In-Schools program of the Greater Columbus Arts Council, and Muse Machine of Toledo. A member of the Capital University faculty since 1990, Paton has conducted the Concert Percussion Ensemble, directed the Jazz Percussion Ensemble, and founded the Ethnic Percussion Ensemble featuring the music of Cuba, Haiti, Brazil and Japan. He has toured and recorded with several well-known artists, including Aretha Franklin, Bobby Shew and Salsa Caliente, Milano la Scala, Carmen Cavallaro, Eddie Daniels, Maurine McGovern, Bernadette Peters, Sir Ronald Hannah, April Berry -Ballet Metropolitan, Arnett Howard and his Creole Funk Band, and Yumbambé Salsa Jazz.

The International Fashion Show will feature traditional fashions from countries all over the world. Models will be Ohio Dominican University faculty members and students.

The Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance will showcase the talents of children studying at the academy, who range from 11 to 15 years of age. The group will perform both soft-shoe and hard-shoe routines. The worldwide success of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance has placed Irish dance in the international spotlight. The performers' costumes and dances commemorate the rich heritage of Ireland's past. The Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance conducts classes in Columbus, Dayton and Indianapolis.

Zivili celebrates the dances, songs, and music of the peoples of the Southern Slavic Nations of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Hercegovina, Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, Vojvodina, and Montenegro. Zivili transports its audiences across the varied landscapes of that historic land. The group, which has toured nationally and internationally, treats their audiences to a lively authentic and entertaining program.

The International Arts Event will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in The Little Theatre in Erskine Hall on Ohio Dominican's main campus, 1216 Sunbury Road. The event is free and open to the public. Free parking is available in the Visitor's Lot between Alumni Hall and Lyman Hall, west of Sunbury Road.

Reservations are encouraged. For more information or to RSVP, contact Claudia DiSalvo at 614.251.4646.