The World Dance Day which was established in 1982, seeks to promote the art of dance around the world. This special day is all about the history of dance and the recognition of its place in society.
Dance is both an art form and a method of communication in cultures around the world, and is practiced by millions of people belonging to diverse cultures and nationalities. Celebrate this International Dance Day by learning about the history of dance, or perhaps even learning a new dance yourself or with a group of friends.
Further, the date for celebrating Dance Day on 29 April is not linked to a specific person or a type of dance, although it is also the day when the French dancer and creator of modern ballet Jean-Georges Noverre was born.
World Dance Day in India
On the occasion of World Dance Day, dancers performing diverse styles of dance including traditional, contemporary and others are organizing a grand show in New Delhi curated by (Padmashri) Geeta Chandran Dancer/Choreographer ̶ A celebrated artist and a star-performer. Geeta Chandran is synonymous with the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam.
Dr. Swarnamalya Ganesh is a well-known Sadir (Bharatanatyam) dancer, dance historian, choreographer and tutor, holding a Ph. D in Dance History from the University of Madras will also be performing “From The Attic” a multi-lingual performance series which is a journey through performance, art and lectures. It is an intermediate space between several years of research of academic knowledge and a lifetime of knitting the stories, lives, and values of the past as truth into the future.
It is Dr. Swarnamalya Ganesh’s wish and dream that her performance will place Bharatanatyam in a new light of a dance-form that is cosmopolitan and amalgamation of the ancient and the modern.
“By doing this we are trying to let the world know that it’s a people’s art. There is no need for any special initiation. The artistes are supposed to cater to all sections of the society through this form,”
“Of course this is not to negate its grammar. But the grammar is not the form, it is merely a tool to create dances that are relevant to the world,” she adds.
A preview of From the attic
From the Attic will be performed at IIC on April 30 at 7:15 pm.
