Waltz, salsa, street
Anything goes!
Can you keep the beat?
International Dance Day
29 April annually
International Dance Day – Get ready to swivel those hips!
The day was first established by UNESCO in 1982 and it is held every 29 April, as this is the birth date of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), creator of modern ballet.
The gala event takes places in a city that is chosen by the Executive Council of the International Theatre Institute. On 2017 the grand event took place in Shanghai, China and in 2018 it will be held in Havana, Cuba. It’s really quite fitting that a day held on the birthdate of the creator of modern ballet is being held in Havana, as the world famous dancer Carlos Acosta, who was a principal guest artist at The Royal Ballet from 2003-2016 comes from Cuba.
So this get yourself ready to try the habanera, the tradition dance in Cuba. The dance hails from the 19th century and it is characterised by a slow pace. However, if you prefer something a bit faster how about trying the salsa!
In 2010, 300 people in Toronto performed a routine that has become a video sensation on youtube – it’s been watched over 185,000 times so far!
In 2014 a flashmob of around 50 classical dancers performed in Chennai to celebrate the day – that must have been a wonderful sight! The opportunity to join up for some modern dance lessons is also always on offer and could be worth looking into!
Do you love to dance? I know I do! We express ourselves through dancing, it’s fun and one of the best forms of exercise! So much so that you’ll be having too much to fun to even realise you’re working out at the same time!
It’s also a great expression of our cultures – from ceilidh dancing in Scotland to bollywood dance in India.
We all have different tastes and there’s got to be a type of dance to suit everyone. International dancing encourages everyone who can take part to get moving!
So whether you fancy trying something new or heading out with some friends for the night, make sure you remember to celebrate!
And remember even if you think you’re a bad dancer and the robot move or the caterpillar is the best you’ve got – now’s the time to flaunt it! Make sure you keep checking the International Dance Day website for more information about events in 2018.