Malaysia World Dance Day, 2016

Thank you to the Federal Academy of Ballet and Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara for participating in the celebration of International Dance Day, which is an event celebrated in the whole world initiated by the International Dance Council UNESCO. As a member it is our duty to promote and celebrate this day with dance of any kind and in any manner whether a performance, class, workshop, dance exchange or festival, even a residency or social dancing.

International Dance Day was introduced in 1982 by the International Dance Council (CID, Conseil International de la Danse), a UNESCO partner NGO, and is celebrated yearly, on April 29. The date is not linked to a particular person or a particular form of dance, although it’s also the day when the French dancer and ballet master Jean-Georges Noverre was born. The main purpose of Dance Day events is to attract the attention of the wider public to the art of dance. Emphasis should be given to addressing a new public, people who do not follow dance events during the course of the year.

The official message for
Dance Day
29 April 2016

    The media report mainly on dance performances, rarely on dance classes. On the other hand learning dance is more widespread than performing: ten times more people practice dance in class than perform on stage.

    The current economic crisis barely affected dance schools: while many businesses closed very few dance schools did, at worst they lost some students. This proves once more that dance is among the most basic needs – people opt to reduce other expenses rather than stop paying for dance classes.

    State subsidies to companies and public conservatories were reduced, so they turn more and more to private sponsors. Private schools rely on fees paid by students so they turn increasingly to advertising to attract more students. They enlarge the range of dances taught, they organize events, they become more outward and flexible.

    Unfortunately organizations in some countries try to limit the number of dance teachers by putting pressure on governments to recognize only diplomas offered by them. We believe that teaching dance should be open to all without any restrictions.

    Nothing should stop an individual from teaching, learning or performing an art, whether music, theatre, dance, painting or poetry.

    We do encourage all to study seriously and obtain certificates and diplomas in order to gain the confidence of students, but we insist that qualifications should not be restrictive by keeping others from teaching in private practice. Governments should resist pressure from interest groups trying to create their own monopoly in any art.

    A good professional is happy to rely on his/her talent, knowledge and reputation, not on privileges accorded by regulations keeping others from competing and comparing with him. Art by definition is inclusive, not exclusive.

    Dance Day 2016 is dedicated to maintaining an open doors policy in teaching dance.

Alkis Raftis
President of the International Dance Council CID, 
UNESCO, Paris