Ideas

Every year, millions of dancers around the globe celebrate World Dance Day on 29 April. Initiated in 1982 and coordinated by CID, it is not linked to any particular form of dance.

Further to our documents “Dance Day Preparations” and the “Annual Official Message”, here is a list of ideas for this special day. We want to make sure that more and more persons on the planet will practice dance, watch dance or think dance.

1. Performances
Stage a performance, not as you would have presented another day, but a different one: change the content of the performance, or the venue, or the way you advertise it, or the persons who execute it.

2. Classes
Teach in a different way: hold non-stop open-door classes, teach to new people (very young, very old, impaired, passers-by etc.), in new locations (kindergarten, supermarket, factory, prison, hospital, ship, barracks etc.).

3. Lectures
Explain dance: people are used to watching dance or dancing themselves, but they very rarely think dance. Tell them about it, or invite speakers from various areas (historians, writers, journalists, painters, musicians, politicians, religious etc.) to speak about dance.

4. Exhibitions
You can exhibit collections of costumes, photographs, accessories, postcards, postage stamps, posters, books, works by your dancers, your students etc.

5. Articles
Write an article and send it for publication to a magazine or a newspaper. Ask a journalist to write an article with you, presenting your work and your ideas. Write a poem; make a blog; use social media to circulate news, photos, videos.

6. Programs
Cooperate with a TV or radio station to produce a program.

7. Parades
Parades are very popular and mobilize crowds to watch. There are of three kinds: a) Ensembles advance more or less continuously while dancing. b) They dance for a few minutes, then they advance all together, then they dance again, c) They dance on platforms drawn by cars. Sections of the CID cooperate with municipalities to organize parades or other events.

8. Decorations
Public places are decorated around the theme of dance. Private places too, such as shop windows or building fronts – you can ask shop owners to take part in a competition for the best decoration.

9. UNESCO open policy
Dance Day is open to all, there is no copyright, no exclussivity, no priorities.
Members of the CID pioneer in celebrating, all others are encouraged to follow.
DD is addressed to all: dancers and non-dancers, amateur and professional, young and old, private business companies as well as public institutions and agencies.

Dr. Alkis Raftis
President of the CID
UNESCO, Paris