Dancing Around the World with Friendship Ambassadors

           It seems like only yesterday when I received a phone call from Friendship Ambassadors congratulating me on the selection of the Mitzi Layne Dance Troupe to perform in the country of Romania, the home of the gymnast, Nadia Comenaci. That was May of 1976. The trip was such a success that we again traveled the following year and performed throughout Romania, thus adding the country of Bulgaria to out itinerary. It was in our blood; the performance tours through the auspices of Friendship Ambassadors kept occurring, adding the countries of Poland, Czechoslovakia, England, Scotland, Wales, and Greece with a director’s trip to the USSR. Since then, 33 years have lapsed and my excitement has not diminished. As I walked into the United Nations with our performing arts dancers this past August, I was proud of our WV dancers who were selected to represent the United States at the annual Youth Assembly in New York City. What a thrill! The youth Assembly under the organization of Friendship Ambassadors had offered our dancers yet another wonderful performance opportunity; a chance to be a part of the 900 youth delegate conference.

         It is times like this that make me realize how much dance has added not only to my life, but also to the lives of my students. It has served as a medium for friendship, goodwill, and international communication. In this global economy, we have been able to “spread our wings” and work toward the goal of international peace by doing what we love most –dancing! It is because of the Friendship Ambassador Foundation that all of our goals and/ or dreams have   come true!

Mitzi Layne Tichenor