T

"Because of Paula's commit-
hey say it's your
birthday. Happy ment to dance as a strong com-
Birthday, Paula. municative art form, DCC has
When Paula Kra- really expanded and developed
mer officially turns into a professional group, and we
the big Six-0 next plan to present highlights from
Wednesday, it will be three days Paula's work at the concert."
Kramer met her eventual DCC
after celebrating the auspicious
occasion at the biggest blow-out partners when they were under-
birthday bash she's ever seen. grads at Wayne State and mem-
What's going on at 3:30 p.m. bers of the school's dance
Sunday at the Millenium The- company. The Cleveland native,
atre Center when the Detroit who now lives in Huntington
Dance Collective (DCC) presents Woods with her husband, Tom,
a special performance-based cele- started college in 1969 at age 32;
she graduated 10 years later with
bration?
a major in English and a minor in
Can't tell. It's a secret.
"In honor of her 60th birthday, dance.
"At that time, you couldn't ma-
we wanted to give Paula a big par-
ty," says Barbara Selinger, the co- jor in dance," says Kramer, who
artistic director of DCC who took a few courses at a time be-
founded the nonprofit organiza- tween raising three kids and
tion with Kramer, Sue Ellen Darr teaching modern and creative
and Anita Surma dance for children.
Paula Kramer, 17 years ago.
"The four of us [Wayne State
dancer and
"But Paula said dance friends] found that we
choreographer,
that the only way worked so well together that, af-
celebrates a
she would consent ter we graduated, we said, 'Let's
milestone.
to a party was if it try it. Let's form a collective.'
was held as a fund-raiser event That's where the name came
from," Kramer says. "We were all
for Detroit Dance Collective.

Save The Date

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Michigan Opera Theatre's Department of Corn- to the installation, which will then culminate in
munity Programs presents Community Week, a final concert performance. Feb. 3-28 at Wayne
Nov. 25-30. DCC performs at 7 p.m. Wednesday, State University. (810) 546-4949.
The Danceabout Series features performances
Nov. 27, at the Detroit Opera House. Tickets are
for children and their families. Millenium The-
$5. (313) 874-7856.
"Personal Community: Rites and Rights," a atre Center, March 12-15, 1997. (810) 552-7000.
Detroit Dance Collective Co-Artistic Director
gallery installation that combines video, pho-
Barbara
Selinger will present a one-woman mul-
tography and sculptural work, will be part of a
three-week interactive workshop guided by timedia performance show to celebrate her 50th
Deanna Sperka, Paula Kramer and Jeff Nahan. birthday. Millenium Theatre Center, May 15-
Through art, dance and theater, workshop par- 16, 1997. (810) 552-7000.
ticipants are invited to express their reactions

he spotlight will shine on Paula
Kramer Sunday when the
Detroit Dance Collective
kicks off its 17th season.

JULIE YOLLES

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR