International Dance Day 2007
Background
Watch a dance performance in May
We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.
- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche -
Throughout the world, children naturally dance. All children love to run, jump for joy, leap and move. Dance captures the imagination of the very young and allows them to express their individual creativity. If 24 children are asked to make up a dance about the same thing, they will all be unique and different, reflecting the child’s creative processing. (Teresa Purcell Cone, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 2003)
Allowing children to participate in dance encourages them to express themselves and their environment whilst it boosts confidence, coordination and motor skills in a non-competitive environment. There is a growing awareness of this in Scotland today, and a wealth of experiences and performances available for children and their parents to tap into. In addition to private dance schools, there is a growing network of dance artists in the community.
YDance (Scottish Youth Dance) is the National Youth Dance Agency for Scotland. As a leading provider of quality dance education, YDance encourages young people to get active and develop their creativity through dance. Last year, YDance established a youth performance company, Project Y, taking the best young dancers in Scotland to work with top name choreographers to create a performance which tours to main stage venues and festivals.
The Dance in Schools Initiative, led by YDance and funded by the Scottish Executive Health Department, involves taking five-week dance blocks to every local authority in Scotland. More than 800 schools, 4,800 teachers and 144,000 children will benefit from YDance workshops, over three years.
‘To live is to dance, to dance is to live.’ - Snoopy speaking in Peanuts (Charles Schulz)
In 1982 the International Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute, UNESCO, created International Dance Day to be celebrated every year on 29 April.
The date commemorates the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727 - 1810), the creator of modern ballet.
Every year a message from a well-known dance personality is circulated throughout the world. The intention of International Dance Day and the Message is to bring all Dance together on this occasion, to celebrate this artform 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.
The International Dance Committee of CID is collaborating with World Dance Alliance and the International Dance Council for the celebration of International Dance Day.
Take part - with Electric Boogaloos and Jonzi D Hip Hop Fearta workshops at Dance Base; Baby Rave, Nada Nada and Kylian4kids at the Children's International Theatre Festival; and young people’s showcases at the Brunton Theatre.
Some other dance performances coming up:
macrobert -
• Northern Contemporary School of Dance present Verve
• Phoenix Dance Theatre
• JALEO Flamenco
Tramway -
• Erna Ómarsdóttir/Johann Johannson - The Mysteries of Love
• Alain Platel/Les Ballets C. De La B. (Belgium) - VSPRS
• Les Ballets C. De La B. - Import/Export
• Cie Soit (Belgium) - En Servicio
Edinburgh Festival Theatre -
• Nederlands Dans Theater at the
• Breakin' Convention
On tour:
Company Chordelia's Red Shoes
The Curve Foundation Dance Company
David Hughes Dance Company
Get more information about Dance in Scotland in the dance features and projects areas of the Scottish Arts Council website. |