THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 25, 1996 TAG: 9607230129
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 65 lines
When 21-year-old Evert DeBoeck returns to Belgium July 29, the one thing he won't leave behind is his new pet, ``Doggie.''
The foam creature - which looks like a cross between a stegosaurus and a dachshund - fascinated the Flanders college student, one of 35 Incar dance troupe members who performed for Norfolk Academy summer camp students Friday.
``It's my personal doggie,'' he said, jiggling a stiff line that made the toy appear to do a dance of its own as he waited to go on stage. ``Yes, we're going to do the program, but first he has to have a little show. I had one in Washington, but the maid threw it in the litter box. The dog is better here. They sell them in Virginia Beach.''
Incar is on a three-week U.S. tour, stopping in a number of cities along the East Coast. The group bills itself as ``cultural ambassadors of Flanders,'' because, says spokesman Rudy Putteman, the youths ``present the community of Flanders to other countries so everybody knows what Flanders is.''
The visiting teens said they were struck by the friendliness of American youth and the visible disparity between rich and poor.
The troupe, formed 38 years ago, provides a venue for Flanders youth to spend their time usefully, Putteman said. Promising young dancers join the troupe at age 12, then audition for a spot about two years later. If they make the grade, they remain with the performing group until about age 25. Each summer, the group tours a foreign country, performing its choreographic ballet and tap dance.
Last week, the group danced at the French Embassy and the White House in Washington. After five days in Virginia Beach, the troupe will go on to performances in Raleigh, N.C.
Friday's production of ``Illuminata'' was a trip through the twilight zone of light and dark, life and death. Pastel costumes and mist added to the ethereal quality of the two-part presentation.
Like most troupe members, DeBoeck is in college. He's studying ``informatics,'' or computer technology, but he has been a member of Incar for eight years and has traveled with the group to Russia, Bulgaria, England and Germany, among other foreign countries.
``The United States isn't very much different from Europe, except that here you see only the very rich and the very poor, no one in between,'' DeBoeck said. ``I didn't know the contrast was so big. There are more middle class in my country.''
Sylvia VanBrempt, 19, has been with the troupe for nearly two years, and this was her first trip to the United States. The communications student said that she has found Americans ``very friendly,'' though she and several other dancers said they were shocked by the strictness of the rules that govern the behavior of youngsters in the United States.
``In Belgium, we smoke and drink at 16,'' VanBrempt said. ``But we drive and vote at 18.''
All of the troupe members speak English, something they learn from the age of 13 in their schools.
Steven Bagseilier, 18, found ``people pretty friendly, but I don't like it that I can't drink, go into the bars. I like to drink beer.''
Annie Vanbuggenhout, 18, said, ``There are freedoms here, but it's kind of weird that you can't drink here, go in the pub.''
About 350 youngsters attending various summer camps at Norfolk Academy went to Friday's dance performance. They ranged in age from 5 to 15. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by VICKI CRONIS
Belgian dancers cast a long shadow during the dance troupe's
performance at Norfolk Academy. by CNB