Dance has been an integral part of human culture and tradition, not just in India but the world-over. Yet, it has failed to find favour as a serious ‘heritage’ by official establishments in the world. (Photo: Thinkstock)
For all dancers and dance lovers around the globe, April 29 is marked on the calendar as a very special day. Though, for a dancer every day is full of dance, but today is especially so because it is celebrated the world over as ‘International Dance Day’.
This day is dedicated to dance, dancers and dance enthusiasts. It was introduced by UNESCO partner and NGO Conseil International de la Danse (CID), France, in 1982. The fact that April 29 happens to be the birth anniversary of the world-famous French dancer and ballet master Jean-Georges Noverre, is purely coincidental, but such serendipity lends an added sheen to the day and its celebrations nevertheless.
So, why dedicate a day wholly to dance? Well, the idea was to organise events around dance day to make people more aware of dance as an art form.
In many countries dance is looked upon as just a hobby or a way to pass time, and there are very few who take up the art form as a career or follow it with persistent passion. The events on this day — dedicated to dance — are intended to focus on the significance of dance, while providing an opportunity for professional dancers themselves to reaffirm their decision of dedicating their lives to dance, and spreading the word.
This is the philosophy I myself follow while organising International Dance Day events in India, which I have been doing for the past 15 years. Through the annual India Dance Week, I make an effort to promote world dances, introducing these exquisite dance forms to the Indian audience — including Indian dancers, who may not be familiar with dance forms from other cultures.
This is a day not only to entertain, but also educate people about the art form, aiming to bring them closer to and making them more appreciative of the world of dance. To mark the occasion, every year the CID president sends an official message that is circulated across the world. The words may be different, but the sentiment is universal — the need to bring together dancers and dance lovers through one single thread, ‘dance’.
Dance has been an integral part of human culture and tradition, not just in India but the world-over. Yet, it has failed to find favour as a serious ‘heritage’ by official establishments in the world. I remember a shocking Dance Day message by CID president Prof. Alkis Raftis, in 2003, when he said, “In more than half of the 200 countries in the world, dance does not appear in legal texts for better or for worse! There are no funds allocated in the state budget to support this art form. There is no such thing as dance education, private or public.” This is the ignorance that CID seeks to fight by ensuring that each country and each city celebrates International Dance Day, thus, creating awareness and interest around dance as a serious art form.
CID does so by highlighting a different aspect each year. In 2005, it encouraged privately run dance schools and establishments collaborate with the ministries of education in their respective countries to celebrate Dance Day in schools by organising essay writing events on dance, dancing on the streets or even in classrooms!
As an example of how dancing is actually a microcosm of social construct, there have been instances of when CID has asked dancers to join together instead of differentiating against each other on the basis of their dance forms. Sound familiar? Unity in diversity, anyone? CID’s 2006 slogan rings clear: “Dancers of the world, please unite!”
World Dance Day has created waves in India as well. In 2014, around 50 classical dancers got together in Chennai to perform a flash mob, and its impact was incredible. The event broke the stereotypical notion that Indian classical dances are boring and are always danced for a particular type of audience. The first-of-its-kind event in India was a testimony of evolving traditions, as the audience stood and cheered for Bharatnatyam dancers of all ages.
I am a dancer, not just by profession but in my heart as well. We celebrate Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and even Valentine’s Day by going out for a meal with our family and loved ones; but, today, on this very special International Dance Day, I hope you take some time out to go and see a dance show. Devote a part of today to the art of dance, take a chance and open yourself to perceiving the seriousness hidden within all the fun of tapping your feet to the rhythm of the world.
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