03/12/06
CID circular message
Dance Day preparations
On the 29th of April, as every year since 1982, World Dance Day will be celebrated all over the world by the international community of dancers and dance enthusiasts.
The International Dance Council CID has prepared the following guidelines as a useful checklist for persons institutionally involved in the wider field of dance: teachers, choreographers, group leaders, journalists, researchers, associations, suppliers, organizations etc.
Object
The main purpose of Dance Day events is to attract the attention of the wider public to the art of dance. Special emphasis should be given to addressing a "new" public, people who do not follow dance events during the course of the year.
Events
Dance Day events may be special performances, open-door courses, public rehearsals, lectures, exhibitions, articles in newspapers and magazines, dance evenings, radio and TV programs, visits, street shows etc.
Organizers
Events are primarily organized by dance companies, amateur groups, schools, associations and other institutions active in dance. Wherever possible, it is better for events to be organized jointly with a non-dance institution such as a government agency, a public school, a municipality, a business enterprise, a trade union.
Content
Organizers have full freedom to define the content of the event.
Make sure that you include general information on the art of dance, its history, its importance to society, its universal character. This can be done in a short speech, a note in the program, a text distributed to those present. By adding this dimension you make the event different from dance activities taking place any other day.
Read a message from a prominent personality, a poem, a passage from a text by a famous author.
Coordination
In order to achieve maximum success, it is important that preparations start early enough.
It is imperative to inform the press and generally the media about your event.
Notify an organization holding a central position at regional or national level, which should publish a list of events planned for Dance Day.
Entrance to events should preferably be free, or by invitation. Invite persons who do not normally attend dance events.
Location
At best, events should take place in "new" places, such as streets, parks, squares, shops, factories, villages, discotheques, schools, stadiums etc.
By setting the event in original surroundings you stress the fact that this is an event dedicated to the universal family of dancers.
Prof. Alkis Raftis
President of the CID
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1. Please translate the message to the language of your country (if applicable) and send it to the Press and to dance organizations.
2. World Dance Day has been established in 1982 in view of attracting attention to the art of dance, every year on the 29th of April.
On that day, dance companies, dance schools, organizations and individuals are asked to organize an activity addressing an audience larger than their usual one.
3. The International Dance Council (Conseil International de la Danse - CID) is the official umbrella organization for all forms of dance in all countries of the world.
It is a non-governmental non-profit organization (NGO) founded in 1973 within the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, where it is based.
Its purpose is to act as a worldwide forum bringing together international, national and local organizations as well as individuals active in dance.
It represents the interests of the dance world at large and consults accordingly governments and international agencies.
International Dance Council - CID - Conseil International de la Danse
UNESCO, Paris, France
www.cid-unesco.org
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Official message
for Dance Day
29 April 2006
Dancers are notoriously reluctant to join collective organizations.
They are probably afraid that organizing will restrict their freedom to express themselves.
Or they think that the time spent and the membership fee are not worth the benefits gained.
Many associations or federations have only a few dozen members: a small fraction of the total in their area or field.
Lacking in representativity they lack credibility, thus they cannot act as interlocutors of governments and other high-level bodies. They cannot inspire confidence in non-members.
This explains why the art of dance lacking in legislation, in visibility, in financing, when compared to other arts.
Belonging to a wider structure does not limit the way one performs, or teaches, or researches, or makes choreographies. Without influencing one's everyday work, it inproves the framework, the environment of one's action.
Collective bodies provide a wider spectrum of services to their members. Deprived of such services by acting in isolation, schools, companies, clubs, festivals will remain handicapped.
CID encourages the strengthening of regional, national or branch associations by enlarging their membership.
Let us combine our actions, let us orchestrate our music by escaping the cacophony of isolated sounds.
Dancers of the world, unite!
Prof. Alkis Raftis
President of the International Dance Council
CID, UNESCO, Paris
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1. The official Dance Day message is mailed to over 100,000 dance professionals in 200 countries. It is translated to dozens of languages. Please ask for a translation, or translate the message to the language of your country; send it to dance organizations and the media. You can find guidelines and previous messages at the CID web site.
2. Dance Day has been established in 1982 in view of attracting attention to the art of dance, every year on the 29th of April. On that day, dance companies, dance schools, organizations and individuals, professionals as well as amateurs, are asked to organize an activity addressing an audience larger than their usual one.
3. The International Dance Council (Conseil International de la Danse - CID) is the official umbrella organization for all forms of dance in all countries of the world.
It is a non-governmental non-profit organization founded in 1973 within the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, where it is based.
It is a worldwide forum bringing together international, national and local organizations as well as individuals.
It represents the interests of the dance world at large and consults accordingly governments and international agencies.
Conseil International de la Danse - CID - International Dance Council
UNESCO, Paris, France
www.cid-unesco.org
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International Dance Council - CID
President's Office
president@cid-unesco.org