Cuba Celebrates International Dance Day

Cuba will celebrate the International Dance Day Sunday as per a request made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO. 

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Five artistic groups, including the National Ballet of Cuba, known to be the best in the world, will showcase their performances in Havana as part of the 70th anniversary of the International Theater Institute, ITI. 

ITI's website noted that with marking the celebrations of the International Dance day it aimed to "create a bridge between the artists and people of Cuba, and the artists and people all over the world." And through the event, "five extraordinary artists and educators will share their thoughts with the dancers, choreographers, dance professionals, and amateurs, all over the world.

It should show that there are no borders for dance and that artists should be at the vanguard of the people for creating mutual understanding and peace in this world," the website further said. 

ITI was established by UNESCO in 1948 and it has since flourished with 90 centers worldwide. "70 years ago, when ITI was created the peoples just experienced the atrocities of the worst war of this earth. The people and the world needed bridging and healing forces such as UNESCO and ITI,” the institute further said in its statement.

“Today, there are still wars, hidden and apparent wars, which make the world and people suffer. For a better world that is what ITI is aiming for since its beginning and even today.”

This year will be named ‘The Year of ITI’ in order to "commemorate this special milestone” which will include “many events and ceremonies throughout the year."

Advocating the establishment of the International Dance Day to promote the art of dance, the ITI chose April 29th for the occasion, which marks the birth date of 18th-century French dancer and ballet master Jean-Georges Noverre who is considered to be the creator of ballet d'action, a precursor of the narrative ballets of the 19th century.

The International Dance Day celebrations will take place at the Gran Teatro Alicia Alonso in the capital city of Havana, Cuba.