April 29 is International Dance Day #DanceDay in our Homeschool Charlie and I will be studying different dances and practicing them in his Homeschool PE Class. It’s not going to be like when I was in school and we only learned Square Dancing I plan on having Charlie research all types of dances from Salsa to Ballet. Would you like to practice with us? Learning about dance will also give us many opportunities for Field Trips would you like to come with us?
Put your dancing shoes on and get ready to step out. Dancing is universal. Woven into virtually every society all over the world. Humans simply love dance. Dance brings us together whether we are the ones on the dance floor or are watching the professional performance of others. Dancing is exhilarating and impressive. Let’s honor the world of dance today, together!
Lindy hop, jitterbug, freestyle, tango, ballet, and more, the art of grooving and swaying our bodies is celebrated on International Dance Day on April 29. The Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) established April 29 as International Dance Day in 1982 to highlight the amazing diversity and talent of dancers all over the globe. April 29th was chosen because it marks the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), the creator of modern ballet.
The International Theatre Institute created International Dance Day to promote dance across the world, and to make people aware of the value of dance, and enable the dance community to promote their work on a broad scale. The hope is for governments and opinion leaders to become increasingly aware of the value and importance of dance in all its forms and support dance.. On top of all this, International Dance Day was created for us to just enjoy dance for what it is and share the joy with others.
Every year the ITI selects an exemplary choreographer or dancer to write the official holiday message. Their website lists the location of their annual gala as well as other advertised events worldwide. Evidence of dance has been found dating back 9,000 years and it has grown into a worldwide phenomenon. International Dance Day encourages people to celebrate their favorite type of dance while also learning new styles. There are dance styles for people of all ages and rhythm capabilities; so there’s no excuse for you not to get involved.
INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY – SURVEY RESULTS
Data gathered by a top Los Angeles PR Agency
FULL RANKING OF AMERICA’S FAVORITE TYPES OF DANCE #1: Hip hop (40%) #2: Ballroom (13%) #3: Swing (13%) #4: Latin (e.g. salsa, tango, etc.) (12%) #5: Belly dancing (7%) #6: Ballet (5%) #7: Traditional folk or indigenous dancing (African, Irish, Chinese, etc.) (5%) #8: Tap (4%) #9: Bollywood (2%)
FULL RANKING OF AMERICA’S FAVORITE DANCERS OF ALL TIME #1: Michael Jackson (24%) #2: Channing Tatum (12%) #3: Fred Astaire (9%) #4: Shakira (9%) #5: The dancers on Dancing With the Stars (6%) #6: Beyonce (6%) #7: Gene Kelly (5%) #8: Paula Abdul (5%) #9: Chris Brown (4%) #10: Madonna (3%) #11: James Brown (2%) #12: Other (15%)
FULL RANKING OF AMERICA’S FAVORITE DANCE MOVIES #1: Dirty Dancing (26%) #2: Footloose (13%) #3: Grease (13%) #4: Step Up (9%) #5: Happy Feet (7%) #6: Magic Mike (7%) #7: Save the Last Dance (6%) #8: Saturday Night Fever (5%) #9: West Side Story (5%) #10: Flashdance (3%) #11: Black Swan (3%) #12: Shall We Dance (2%) #13: Billy Elliot (1%) #14: Center Stage (1%)
TRADITIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY
The only tradition strongly observed on International Dance Day is dancing, dancing, and more dancing! International Dance Day is probably the one day you can break into dancing in the middle of the street, just like we’ve seen in the movies, and not be called out for it. The whole vibe of International Dance Day is letting loose and moving to the beat of your favorite music.
Dance parties and dance competitions are, of course, very popular today so everyone can feel like they are in a movie. People with serious dance skills take over the dance floor and some even demonstrate unique dance sequences that are no longer trendy or from different cultures. Dance studios have great membership offers, which people eagerly take advantage of.
DANCE DAY BY THE NUMBERS
30,000 – the number of people employed in the dance industry in the U.K. alone.
80% – the percentage of professional dancers who have suffered one major injury during their career.
$4,000 – the cost of the most expensive ballet slippers.
2-3 – the number of pairs of shoes one ballerina wears per week.
30s – the average age most professional dancers retire due to strenuous physical demand.
93% – the percentage of all dancers who became dance teachers following a career-ending injury.
72,000 – the number of people who gathered at a fair in Ohio to do the Chicken dance in 1996.
LET”S CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY 2021
- Have you ever tried Tango? How about Zambian dance? What about the Lindy Hop? Maybe you aren’t really a big dancer but, don’t worry, beginner classes are very forgiving. Regardless of your skill level, today is your day to broaden your horizons! Try a dance class that offers a style you’ve never tried before.
- . King, has been seen by over 100 million people since it began in 1997. Even if you cannot see a show in person today, visit the International Theatre Institute’s website for videos featuring a variety of dance styles from around the world.
- Children can begin dance lessons at a very young age. Those who enjoy it and stick with it reap many benefits including improved physical fitness, higher self-confidence, greater ability to listen and understand instructions, and stronger determination to persevere. Encourage your children to take a chance on dancing!
TYPES OF DANCE
- Ballet – which is often referred to as the backbone of dance, Ballet focuses on techniques that require a great deal of dedication to master.
- Hip-Hop– Which was created in the 1970s, and went mainstream during the 1980s with styles known as breaking, popping, and locking.
- Salsa- The signature hip moves in Salsa dancing come from the dancer stepping while keeping their upper body still and level.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY
- Dancing increases feelings of self-worth is what a 2007 study showed about children from the ages of 11 to 14 who took creative movement classes which reported improved motivation and attitudes.
- Just five minutes of dancing can increase your creativity and dancers in one study showed improvements in both mood and creative problem-solving.
- It’s good exercise and dancing can burn calories plus, you’ll never get bored with your workout.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
