International Dance Day celebrations have been held around the world since 1982 when UNESCO dedicated 29th April World Dance Day. The aim of the day is to attract the wider public’s attention to the art of dance and to bring people together in peace through the art of dance. In keeping with the ethos, International Dance Day Wellington is a free event open to the public and supported by over 20 Wellington dance groups

International Dance Day 2011 will be the 10th year anniversary of the event in Wellington, and is being organised by Youthdance Education Trust (YET) at Te Whaea: National Dance and Drama Centre. Over 1500 children, youths and adults attended the free dance workshops and free dance performance when the event was held at Te Papa on 2nd May 2010. More are expected to attend in 2011, making the event the longest running, continuous celebration of International Dance Day in New Zealand.

Fourteen FREE dance workshops for adults and children and twenty dance groups from Wellington will be performing in 2011

International Dance Day is well supported by the dance community of Wellington, by the private sector dance studios, public schools, national dance training organisations and the Royal New Zealand Ballet. International Dance Day acknowledges the diversity of dance styles and civic pride in our multicultural city

10.45 Official welcome
Amanda Skoog, General Manager Royal New Zealand Ballet Company will open the 10th anniversary celebration of World Dance day with the 2011 UNESCO International Dance Day message

11.00 – 3.00 FREE workshops
Including: 
zumba, contemporary dance, Royal New Zealand Ballet master class, international folk dance, belly dance, creative dance for children, tango, rock 'n' roll, samba, hip hop, morris dancing, salsa and jazz.

3.00 – 4.30 FREE dance performance
Including: 
Infinite Dance Crew, Kelburn School Kapa Haka, Feet with Heat, New Chinese Friendship Association, JDK Crew, Kildunne School of Irish Dancing, Scribble Dance Crew from Hutt Valley High, Crows Feet Dance Collective, New Zealand Academy of Bharata-Natyam, Instep Dance Studio, Strikes Cheerleading from Hutt Valley High, White Rose of Wellington, Pop Burlesque, ZambaBem Dances, Pump Dance Studios, Khandallah Ballet Academy, Hiria Rangi's Zumba and Cuban Fusion.

ENDS