Today, 29 April, is International Dance Day, created to celebrate dance and its ability to cross political, cultural, ethnic and language differences. Every year on International Dance Day a message from an outstanding choreographer or dancer is circulated internationally. The message for 2014 is from French hip-hop artist Mourad Merzouki. You can view his message on the YouTube clip below.
As is traditional, Australian Dance Week 2014 follows International Dance Day, running from 3-11 May. Each year the Ausdance network uses this week to celebrate and promote dance in all its forms.
Australian Dance Week has been celebrated since 1982, when lunch-time performances were held in Sydney, facilitated by Ausdance NSW. It was eventually combined with the Dancers’ Picnic, an annual event held in Sydney on April 29 to mark the birthday of Jean Georges Noverre. Noverre was born in Paris in 1727, and was a distinguished and innovative choreographer, ballet master and dance theorist.
That same year, Noverre’s birthday was declared International Dance Day by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute.
Each state and territory Ausdance now coordinates a variety of events from book launches and forums to free performances and community classes, and encourages its dance community to promote their own activities throughout the week.
For more information about what is happening in each state, click here.
Contact your local Ausdance for more information.
Above: First Friday Dance Club performing during Australian Dance Week 2012, Vic. Below: WA's Hullabaloo Hoppers performing during Australian Dance Week 2012.
