International Dance Day 
29th April 2002

• 2002  International Dance Day Message 
• Background - International Dance Day - 29th April
• Biographical Information - Katherine Dunham
• Authors of the International Dance Day Message 1982 -2002
• International Dance Links 
• International Dance Committee of the ITI

Dancers are, as are all artists, made to feel and to make others feel. 

We are suddenly plunged into the all-consuming fires of feeling since the
cataclysmic happenings of September 11, 2001.

Dancers are given the great gift of motion and design.  They live
holistically, body, mind and spirit molded into single and continuous acts.

Do not stop dancing. Whatever happens and God willing, we have seen the
worst, I say to you, "NEVER STOP DANCING !"

In 1982 the InternationalDance Committee of the International Theatre Institute, UNESCO, created International Dance Day to be celebrated every year on the 29th April. 

The date commemorates the birthday  of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727 - 1810), the creator of modern ballet. 

Every year a message from a well-known dance personality is circulated throughout the world. The intention of International Dance Day and the Message is to bring all Dance together on this occasion, to celebrate this art form and revel in its universality, to cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers and bring people together in peace and friendship with a common language - DANCE. 

The International  Dance Committee of  ITI is collaborating  with  World Dance Alliance for the celebration of International Dance Day. 

Katherine Dunham was born in Joliet, Illinois in 1909.  She became one of the first African Americans to attend the University of Chicago where she earned bachelor, masters and doctoral degrees in anthropology.  She completed groundbreaking work on Caribbean and Brazilian dance anthropology as a new academic discipline. 

In 1931, Miss Dunham established her first dance school in Chicago.  Her successful dance career in the American and European theater started in 1934 and led to leading roles in musicals, operas and cabarets. She appeared in the films "Stormy Weather" and "Cabin in the Sky" which she co-choreographed with George Balanchine.

In the late 1930's Miss Dunham established a school and touring company in New York City that won critical acclaim while performing more than 100 of her original works.  In 1967, Miss Dunham joined the faculty of Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, where she helped create a performing arts training center and established a dance anthropology program.  In 1969, Miss Dunham created a community-based arts education program in East St. Louis, the region's only multi-disciplinary arts organization devoted to the study, appreciation and celebration of diverse cultures.  This was prompted by Miss Dunham great concern for racial equality.

Miss Dunham's awards, include among others ten honorary doctorates, the Presidential Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors, French Legion of Honor, Southern Cross of Brazil, Grand Cross of Haiti, NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award, Lincoln Academy Laureate, and the Urban Leagues' Lifetime Achievement Award.  Her life was celebrated in the book, "I Have A Dream".  Miss Dunham recounts her cultural and theatrical experiences in 8 books, numerous articles and short stories she has authored.

1. 1982: Henrik NEUBAUER 
2. 1983: anonymous 
3. 1984: Yuri GRIGOROVITCH 
4. 1985: Robert JOFFREY 
5. 1986: Chetna JALAN 
6. 1987: Dance Committee Board 
7. 1988: Robin HOWARD 
8. 1989: Doris LAINE 
9. 1990: Merce CUNNINGHAM 
10. 1991: Hans VAN MANEN 
11. 1992: Germaine ACOGNY 
12. 1993: Maguy MARIN 
13. 1994: Dai AILIAN 
14. 1995: Murray LOUIS 
15. 1996: Maïa PLISSETSKAÏA 
16. 1997: Maurice BEJART 
17. 1998: Kazuo OHNO 
18. 1999: Mahmoud REDA
19. 2000: Alicia ALONSO, Jirí KYLIÁN, Cyrielle LESUEUR
20. 2001: William FORSYTHE
21. 2002: Katherine DUNHAM

Some International Dance Links : 

Events under the auspices of the ITI International Dance Committee :
1. Varna International Ballet Competition (Bulgaria) email : varna_ibc@bulgarianspace.com website : http://www.bulgarianspace.com/music/varna_ibc 
2. USA International Ballet Competition, Jackson, Mississippi.(USA)  http://www.usaibc.com 
3. Helsinki International Ballet Competition (Finland).  anneli.kurki@teatteri.org    Website :  http://www.teatteri.org/balkilp.htm
4. New York International Ballet Competition (USA) nyibc@nyibc.org   website http://www.nyibc.org

1. Switzerland : http://www.tanznetz.ch/welttanz 
2. World Dance Alliance : http://www.idanews.com 

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