Ohio State’s Hillel Center, which has a strong tradition of promoting diversity across campus, is reaching out using the medium of art.

Tonight, Hillel will welcome the Eskesta Dance Theater, who will perform “Dances of the Beta-Israel: Past and Present.”

The company, composed of 10 students who are all Beta-Israelis, or Ethiopian Jews, performs “eskesta,” from the Amharic word meaning “shoulder dance.” EDT reflects the changes that have occurred within the Ethiopian-Jewish community following its move to Israel, while still trying to preserve elements of its ancestry.

Each dancer immigrated to Israel to escape oppressive third-world conditions and the Communist government occupying Ethiopia at the time, but wished to hold onto the characteristics that made their culture different.

In 1991, Ruth Eshel conducted a research project that analyzed the language of movement. Through her research, the idea for the Eskesta group originated and turned into a movement course at the University of Haifa. Auditions were held and EDT was formed.

“Eskesta holds a special quality of movement,” Eshel said. “We know a lot about African dance, but it is mainly West African dancing, not types like eskesta.”

Eskesta combines dance, movement, poetry, music, stories and prayers of Ethiopian society.

“Of course we want to preserve the culture, but these dancers do more than that,” Eshel said. “They strengthen their self-esteem, present themselves in a professional manner and get to see the world.”

The group has performed at many international festivals, traveling to the Ukraine, Italy, France and Germany. This is EDT’s premier tour in the United States. The group has been on the road for six weeks, performing at college campuses across the Midwest and the East Coast.

“We have been working very hard,” Eshel said. “We perform every day – in the beginning of the tour sometimes twice – and receive standing ovations after many performances.”

Third-year company member Aman Chole said he “grew up with movement.” He learned to dance as a child at weddings, festivals and bar mitzvahs.

Chole said his trip to America with the dance company was not quite what he expected.

“America is not at all like the movies,” he said. “I was surprised by Americans’ behaviors. People are very polite; it’s ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ and they open doors for you.”

Chole also was surprised by the enforcement of laws in the U.S.

“I thought America was free,” Chole said. “I thought there would be no rules here, but there are – not everyone can drink and you must have an ID”

EDT, presented by the University of Haifa and the American Society of the University of Haifa, was brought to Hillel through the assistance of the Columbus Jewish Federation.

“One day the Columbus Jewish Federation called and told us about this great opportunity,” said Seth Rosenzweig, Hillel’s Jewish Campus Service Coordinator, who also teaches a modern Israeli dance class on Wednesday nights.

“One thing we always try to do at Hillel is promote diversity, and I thought this was a great way for students to participate in a different type of dance. It will be a fun setting in which everyone can experience a different culture,” he said.

The Hillel performance will feature original music, Beta-Israel prayers, Ethiopian tribal dances and artistic dances created by Eshel.

The free event will begin at 8 p.m. today in Hillel’s auditorium, and is open to the public.