The National Dance Association — N.D.A. will be hosting its Virtual National Dance Festival in commemoration of International Dance Day under the theme Harness the power of dance to inspire hope and solidarity on Thursday 29th April 2021. International Dance Day, known as World Dance Day, has been earmarked as a celebration for anyone who attaches value and importance to dance, and acts as a wake-up call for institutions that have not yet recognized its value.
International Dance Day promotes arts and culture, and raises awareness among the public regarding the “art of dance”. It also seeks to educate about several forms of dance and their value in the art form.
The dance fraternity has been severely impacted by this pandemic and no one has come to their rescue.
The pandemic has left many members without jobs but also without creative spaces for expression. This has unified the dance fraternity to become innovative in order to remain relevant while creating platforms for performers to display their talents. This Virtual National Dance Festival is designed to give our dancers a safe space to display their creativity in a National Dance Festival.
The National Dance Festival will feature dance companies and dancers from around the island in various forms of dance. These dance forms include traditional and folk dance, Caribbean/Afro dance, limbo, and fire breathing, modern and contemporary including Latin dance and Stilt Walking. There will be special interviews featuring dance icons and a tribute to our fallen dance soldier Anthony”Corky” Jn Bapiste who recently passed.
The National Dance Festival will be aired on Thursday 29 April 2021, (International Dance Day) on Calabash TV from 8:30 pm with repeat broadcasts at 11:00 pm and on Friday at 6 am, 12 pm, and 8 pm. It will also be streaming on www.facebook.com/calabashtv and www.youtube.com/calabashtv.