International Dance Day

DANCE DAY, a grassroots initiative that encourages young and old, to move! Individuals, families, organizations and communities from across the world come together through their creative expression in dance. Any style of dance is welcome and imagination is recommended in order to get the most out of this celebratory day.

FLASH MOB DANCE, a most fabulous celebration of dance, for sure. What a great example of teamwork and one vision, sharing and celebrating dance for all!

Flash Mob dancing slowly spreads through the crowd. This is the kind of event that brings people together, people from all kinds of backgrounds and walks of life. It makes people happy, and seeing them dancing to songs that we enjoy is awesome! At the end all the dancers walk off as if nothing has happened.

I have selected a few National Dance Day videos for you. I think that they are fun to watch and I hope that you think so too.

Canada's National Ballet School's community members celebrated the Schools 50th anniversary on International Dance Day, April 29, 2010 at the Toronto Eaton Centre. Choreography by Matjash Mrozewski (an NBS grad) to an Escort remix of Feists,

I Feel it All.

Plan an event ...

The main purpose of Dance Day events is to attract the attention of the wider public to the art of dance. Special emphasis should be given to addressing a "new" public, people who do not follow dance events during the course of the year.

Events

Dance Day events may be special performances, open-door courses, public rehearsals, lectures, exhibitions, articles in newspapers and magazines, dance evenings, radio and TV programs, visits, street shows etc.

1982 - promoted by UNESCO International Dance Council.

Goal: To increase the awareness of the importance of dance for the general public and to promote the provision of areas for dance in all systems of education.

2003 - President Prof. Alkis Raftis in his Dance Day Message stated that dance does not appear in legal texts in more than half of the 200 countries in the world with no funds allocated in the state budget to support the art of dance.

2005 - International Dance Council urged people to contact the Ministries of Education to propose celebrating July 29th within primary schools by writing essays about dance, drawing pictures of dance and dancing in the streets.

2006 - The call went out: "Dancers of the world, unite!"

2007 - Dance Day was dedicated to children.

2008 - Proposal for CID Sections representing all forms of dance, all levels, all functions.

2010 - The United Nations proclaimed 2010 as International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures and designated UNESCO as lead agency in this celebration.

align:justify;line-height:23px;color:purple;background:FFCCFF;">This was very well done. I just can't stop smiling while watching this video. Simple start - just one person, steady growth and plenty of people. Awesome song choice, good location. I bet it made a lot of people smile. A perfect flashmob.

53 people missed their train! Sometimes you just have to go with the wonderful and unexpected - it can make life and living so much more enjoyable!

Created by: Nigel Lythgoe of "So You Think You Can Dance" television series.

Introduced by: Congresswoman, Eleanor Homes Norton with a resolution to promote dance education and physical fitness across the U.S.

July 31, 2010 - First National Dance Day celebrated.

July 30, 2011 - Second National Dance Day celebrated.

Coordination

In order to achieve maximum success, it is important that preparations start early enough.

It is imperative to inform the press and generally the media about your event.

Notify an organization holding a central position at regional or national level, which should publish a list of events planned for Dance Day.

Entrance to events should preferably be free, or by invitation. Invite persons who do not normally attend dance events.

Location

At best, events should take place in "new" places, such as streets, shops, factories, villages, discotheques, schools, stadiums etc. By setting the event in original surroundings you stress the fact that this is an event dedicated to the universal family of dancers.

Kim created this as a tribute to her best friend Erika Heller who died of colon cancer last year at age 31.

Each and every telephone conversation they ever had, Erika would end by telling Kim "You're an amazing woman"! Well, Kim wanted to do something special to honour her friend and this is the result. It was filmed at the Toronto Eaton Centre after only one 6 hour rehearsal.

Kim's goal is to reach 1,000,000 viewers - please help her reach her goal and pass this on to all the amazing women in your life. Enjoy!!

It's not the dancing that matters, but it helps. The main thing is .. have fun!

Dedicated to ....

This very special day is dedicated to the one language that everybody in this world can speak, the inherent language of our bodies and our souls, of our ancestors and of our children.

This day is dedicated to every song and impulse and moment that's ever moved us to move.

It is dedicated to the little child that wishes it could move like its star. And to the mother who says "you already can."

This day is dedicated to every body of every creed, colour and culture that carries the traditions of its past into stories of the present and dreams of the future.

This day is dedicated to Dance, to its myriad dialects and its immense power to express, transform, unite and delight.

Is there a chance that you can join in on a Dance Day? Keep in mind most of us are not dancers, but we are going to do our best and have fun!!!!