Each year, International Dance Day brings dancers, choreographers, teachers, students, and enthusiasts together to celebrate the power and universality of our art form. A highlight of this global day is the official message from an internationally acclaimed dance artist, chosen by the International Theatre Institute (ITI).
For 2025, that honour goes to the incomparable Mikhail Baryshnikov. His words offer a timely and moving reflection on dance's capacity to connect us, express the inexpressible, and illuminate our shared human experience – particularly resonant in the complex world we navigate today.
In his own words, here is Mikhail Baryshnikov's International Dance Day Message for 2025
"It’s often said that dance can express the unspeakable. Joy, grief, and despair become visible; embodied expressions of our shared fragility. In this, dance can awaken empathy, inspire kindness, and spark a desire to heal rather than harm. Especially now—as hundreds of thousands endure war, navigate political upheaval, and rise in protest against injustice—honest reflection is vital. It’s a heavy burden to place on the body, on dance, on art. Yet art is still the best way to give form to the unspoken, and we can begin by asking ourselves: Where is my truth? How do I honor myself and my community? Whom do I answer to?"
About the Messenger: Mikhail Baryshnikov
To have such a towering figure deliver the message is a special moment for the dance world. Born in Riga, Latvia, and now based in New York City, Mikhail Baryshnikov's name is synonymous with technical brilliance, artistic depth, and an enduring dedication to dance across genres.
His illustrious career began with the Kirov Ballet before his move to the West in 1974. He became a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre (ABT), later joining New York City Ballet where he collaborated with legends like George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. His decade as Artistic Director of ABT introduced a new generation of talent, and his co-founding of the White Oak Dance Project with Mark Morris significantly impacted American modern dance. Today, his work continues through Baryshnikov Arts in New York City, a vital hub for multidisciplinary artists globally.
Why April 29th? The History of International Dance Day
International Dance Day was established by the Dance Committee of the ITI in 1982. The date, April 29th, was chosen to commemorate the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), the French balletmaster whose revolutionary ideas are credited with creating modern ballet as we know it.
The day's intention, and that of the annual message, is to celebrate the diversity and universality of dance. It serves as a reminder that dance is a powerful tool capable of crossing political, cultural, and ethnic divides, bringing people together through a shared language of movement and emotion.
Mikhail Baryshnikov's poignant message for 2025 calls on us to recognise dance's unique ability to make the invisible visible and to use this power for empathy and understanding. As we in Australia celebrate International Dance Day, let his words inspire us to explore our own truths through movement and connect with our communities through the profound language of dance.