International Dance Day is celebrated on April 29
Initiated in 1982 by the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO International Theatre Institute, International Dance Day falls on April 29 of every year, commemorating the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre, a distinguished choreographer that brought about significant reforms in ballet production. Although some sources say it has no relation to a particular person or event, but it’s also the day when the French dancer and ballet master Jean-Georges Noverre was born.
The reason behind celebrating Dance Day is to attract the attention of the non dancers to dance. Emphasis should be given to addressing people who are not interested in dance events. The advantages are uncountable. Despite of it being a good exercise it is also a stress buster. It refreshes the mind and body. It is food for the brain too. It helps to reduce weight and keep fit. There are various options so you can choose as per your choice and requirement. Dance, being a central part of every culture, constitutes the ideal means for bringing together people from different countries.
History of International Dance Day
Festivals promote in the most lively manner reciprocal knowledge and respect of diversity; A lot more can be done to promote dance. International Dance Day was introduced in 1982 by the International Dance Council (CID, Conseil International de la Danse), a UNESCO partner NGO, and is celebrated every year, on 29th April.
In 2014, around 50 classical dancers got together to perform a flash mob at Chennai Hundreds of lucky shoppers gathered to catch a glimpse of the dancers. These men and women danced with full enthusiasm. They were dressed in saris, lehengas and kurta-pajamas. They delighted the audience with their performance.
Every year, an international message authored by a well-known dance personality is circulated around the world as part of International Dance Day celebrations. This year (2015), this message was written by Luca ‘Lazylegz’ Patuelli. Luca ‘Lazylegz’ Patuelli is the founder and creator of the ILL-Abilities™ Crew, an international b-boy crew comprised of the world’s best “Ill-abled” dancers and co-founder of Project RAD, Canada’s first inclusive urban dance program offering programming out of accessible dance studios across Québec. Patuelli was born with a birth defect that required him to use crutches. His message reads as under –
International Dance Day Message
“No matter what age, race, sex or ability one may have, everyone can dance. Dance is within all of us. Some choose to share it with others and some choose to keep it to themselves. Life is a dance whether we know it or not. We are constantly dancing with every movement we make, with every breath we take, and with every beat our hearts make, a rhythm is being created. It’s the slightest movements that make the greatest difference in a performance, just like in life it’s the little things that matter. Dance is the connection between you and the universe; while we are dancing we are developing ourselves based on the energy, the emotions, and the challenges we experience. It is up to us to determine how we want to communicate our dance to the world. Dance is the ultimate form of self-expression and it is the escape that always reminds us that everything is going to be ok. Dance challenges us to surpass our limitations by discovering strength within. So, live your life to the fullest and dance beautifully!”
Related Questions:
- Whose Birthday is celebrated on International Dance Day?
- What is International Dance Day Message for 2015 ?
- What is the History of International Dance Day – Why is this day Celebrated ?