International Dance Day
By Susannah Keita
Faculty, College of Fine Arts and Production
April 29 marks International Dance Day. This is a day that celebrates the art of dance and is a reason to dance in itself. Read more to see Grand Canyon University’s dedication to dance:
What is International Day of Dance?
The dance committee of the International Theatre Institute created International Dance Day “for those who can see the value and importance of the art form ‘dance.'” This designated day of dance also “acts as a wake-up call for governments, politicians and institutions which have not yet recognized its value to the people” or “its potential for economic growth.”
Our faculty and students in Grand Canyon University’s dance department would certainly agree. Many of our graduates are now leading their own K-12 dance programs here in metropolitan Phoenix, while others are leading successful careers as professional dancers.
Through a number of initiatives that extend the reach of the program from the classroom into the local community, current GCU dance students and faculty match passion for their art with a sense of purpose. As Jesus declared, “By their fruits you will know them (Matthew 7:16).” Due to our Christian worldview, our community cherishes its diversity and celebrates all forms of dance, recognizing its ability to transcend all manner of barriers.
Some of those barriers are inside us. When we stop moving, we become stagnant— physically, cognitively and spiritually. As Ohad Naharin, artistic director of Batsheva Dance Company of Israel wrote in the International Dance Day message in 2018, “Dancing is about being in the moment. It’s about listening to the scope of sensations and allowing that listening to become the fuel of all feelings, forms and content.”
Anyone who dances, for their own edification and uplift, understands this innately. Naharin ended his message with a reminder: “We must always remember to dance a little every day… and never in front of a mirror.” Dancing is good for the body, mind and soul.
References:
- https://www.international-dance-day.org/pdfs/2018OhadNaharinEN.pdf
- https://www.international-dance-day.org/
- Matthew 7:20, New King James Version Bible
If you want to learn more about Grand Canyon University’s dance program within the College of Fine Arts and Production, check out our website or click the Request More Information button on this page.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
