Dance, Travellers, Dance!

Have you showed off your dance moves today? It’s International Dance Day today and we’re all encouraged to dance in the name of universal peace and friendship.

The International Dance Day was introduced back in 1982 by UNESCO and since then the day has been celebrated on 29 April every year in commemoration of the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727 – 1810), the creator of modern ballet.

Every year an International Dance Day message is circulated worldwide. This year’s message is by South African dancer and choreographer Gladys Faith Agulhas:

“The spirit of Dance has No colour, No selected shape or size
But Embraces the Power of Unity, Strength,
And Beauty found within us.

Each Dancing Soul, Young, Old, person livng with a disABILITY
Creates and transforms ideas into life changing moving Art.
Dance is the mirror reflecting the impossible made possible.
For all to touch, hear, feel and experience.

Sounds from our hearts and Soul is our rhythm,
Our every move reveals the history of mankind.
It is the element where the Human Spirit can embrace the ultimate Freedom.

Whenever our hands touch, something beautiful happens,
What the Soul remembers, the body portrays through movement.
Dance is therefore the healing force for all to access,
You are my eyes and I am your feet.

Celebrate INTERNATIONAL DANCE Day,
Use your Passion for Dance to heal each other,
Unify your dance community,
Most importantly be the Best that you can be in your Own Right,
We are able to stand unified through the Power and Spirit of Dance.”
Gladys Faith Agulhas

Source: International Dance Day 2008 website

UNESCO says: “The intention of International Dance Day and the Message is to bring all dance together on this day, to celebrate this art form and revel in its universality, to cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers and bring people together in peace and friendship with a common language : Dance.”

I’ll dance to that!

External link:
International Dance Day 2008

Video of dance created especially for International Dance Day in Denmark