DECATUR - With a space so comfortable, the Madden Arts Center in downtown Decatur made it easy for the Dance Company of Middlebury from Vermont to dance in an unfamiliar town in front of unfamiliar people.

"This is a welcoming space," said Decatur native Andrea Olsen. "With beautiful lighting and a great floor, you really feel it. It's really great to be able to be in this space."

Olsen, along with the dance company from Middlebury, performed a preview of the modern dance piece choreographed by Olsen titled "Tribute" on Tuesday afternoon.

The full-length version of the dance, with full lighting and video, can be seen at 4 and 7:30 p.m. today at Millikin University's Albert Taylor Theatre. The performance will include original music by Philip Hamilton and video footage by James Bruce.

Olsen hosts a pre-show talk at 6:30 p.m. at the theater.

"One of the things we're celebrating with this dance piece, 'Tribute,' is the people and places who celebrate arts in the community," said Olsen, a professor and chairwoman of the dance department of Middlebury College and director of the eight-person touring dance company.

"It's really a pleasure to be in my home landscape and share it with these young dancers," she said. "It's a very vital community."

The dance piece is in honor of Olsen's late mother, Decatur resident Challys Hamman Olsen, who was a Decatur teacher.

Louise Parsons of Decatur enjoyed the performance and said she was a friend of Olsen's mother.

"I think she would have loved it," Parsons said of Challys Olsen. "She would have been proud."

But while the audience was mesmerized by the performance, the dancers were enthused about Madden Arts Center.

"I really like the floor," said dancer Rebecca Marcus. "It's nice to dance on. I'm surprised they don't have more dance performances (in Madden Arts Center)."

"I love how the sun shines in through the windows," said dancer Tatiana Virviescas Mendoza. "It's such an intimate setting."

Sue Powell, gallery director of the Decatur Area Arts Council, said the performance was fascinating and a great use of the full space - not just floor space, but also wall and air space.

"It's not often that we have dance at the Madden Arts Center," Powell said. "I would like for (Madden Arts Center) to feature dance more and more, because it's easy for us to forget about dance as art."

Alicia Spates can be reached at aspates@herald-review.com or 421-6986.