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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ; COLOR: "><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"
color=#ee6e65>National Endowment for the Arts chooses Ohio Dance Theatre
Artistic Director, Denise Gula</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ; COLOR: "><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt" color=#ee6e65>for
the National "Tell Us Your Story" Campaign</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ; COLOR: "></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ; COLOR: "><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">One of only 5
chosen in the state of Ohio</FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ; COLOR: "></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ; COLOR: "></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ; COLOR: "><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt" color=#231c34>In
celebration of its 50<SUP>th</SUP> Anniversary National Endowment for the Arts
has gathered stories from the general public and grantees, elected officials and
agency directors, </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ; COLOR: "><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
color=#231c34>artists and art lovers across the country about the importance of
art in their lives and their communities. - </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ; COLOR: "></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ; COLOR: "><FONT color=#59554d>As a choreographer and
founder/artistic director of Ohio Dance Theatre, I sometimes have the luxury of
creating socially relevant work. In this particular case, I was able to use my
art form to create something that I also feel passionate about. Blood Stripe
describes the struggle of a Marine veteran, one of the millions of Americans who
fought in Iraq and Afghanistan and returned home profoundly changed by the
soul-wrenching experience of combat. During the Iraq War, 48 Marines stationed
with the 325th Marine Battalion were killed in Iraq. My son-in-law was among the
many who "survived" but came home forever changed. I made the ballet because I
felt helpless witnessing my daughter's family as they struggle with long-term
effects of PTSD and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). Blood Stripe uses dance to
communicate the military experience, expressing through movement thoughts that
words often cannot say. The name of the piece comes from Marine jargon that
references the red band on dress uniform trousers worn by officers and NCOs,
symbolizing blood shed by marines in war.</FONT><BR><BR><A
href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001S4NXpkvMxKqVqmQSc4unMI8bSsuRhswc6rWmFwHZEdJUtkofH0syJcCqkVoDztFvOasb84L5EsRg7p5ykzYQ6o9pSg0a5nlGc2VFTNOf2MDjDOiRB-qOhAsOF0WuXo058VjphLdzCVadfO8fQNJG96JB3uoUeVN3TXifY_jI3cw34FWzWg19-1n0Z9CQlo757jexjXhx2z8=&c=VRWsDjSJ5mWed8sT1JPEpabGXUttdCam2Hp28tvuujK7ZUxcqyZjCQ==&ch=L30E4QZr264f4Oh5DIvW95_IBe06PxzKFAn_BHzFwPHAJOTtxfCqiw=="
target=_blank><SPAN style="COLOR: ; TEXT-DECORATION: "><FONT color=#ee6e65><FONT
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none">Read the full story
here</FONT></FONT></SPAN></A></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-FAMILY: ; COLOR: "></SPAN> </P>
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style="FONT-FAMILY: ; COLOR: "></SPAN> </P></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Kevin
Urquhart</DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Registrar</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Ohio Dance
Theatre<BR>(440)
774-6077<BR>odt@oberlin.net</DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>