We are thrilled to announce that next week is National Dance Week! Formed in 1981 when a group of dance-related organizations began a strong “grass roots” movement to bring greater recognition to dance, National Dance Week was established as a non-profit institution in 2011. Over the years, the organization’s dedication to its founding mission has inspired thousands of events during the ten-day annual celebration of National Dance Week in April, from gatherings in major cities to local showcases at small-town malls. Because they reflect the unique and creative abilities of the individuals and organizations who participate, an array of events, including the annual Flash Mob and annual Kick It Challenge, celebrate dance in unlimited ways throughout the year.
With a mission statement to "heighten the awareness of Dance and its contributions to our culture,” their goal is to encourage as many people as possible to “celebrate dance and promote fun fitness.” It is of the utmost importance that all dancers become involved and active in the programs and presentations held each year. Only through the dedicated work and concerted efforts of all dancers, will we ever reach our goal, ensuring that the American public will come to realize that dance is a true global language and can impact all facets of living. Whether you're a dancer, or non dancer, there's a lot you can do to get involved to support National Dance Week:
1) Take a Dance Class
There are a lot of benefits to taking a dance class - it's fun, you'll get a great workout, its a great stress reliever, it helps you connect to your body, and its a great way to express yourself. Plus there are studios all over Atlanta offering dance classes for both the non and professional dancer.
2) Donate to the Dancers Care Foundation's $1 Project
Dancers Care Foundation raises awareness and funds to help prevent cancer and ultimately find a cure. Their primary objective is to generate revenue to support medical research in the fight against cancer, with dancers and dance-related businesses at the forefront of giving. The result of their work provides funding to doctors and researchers for innovative clinical and genetic research. They rely solely on corporate sponsorship, united dance-community efforts, and donations from the public to run their programs. And best of all, they donate 100% of all funds raised, taking no administrative costs. Donating $1 won't take much, and you have the benefit of knowing that every penny will go toward the fight against cancer. For more information on DCF's $1 Project, click here.
3) Dance Education
If you're a teacher, National Dance Week's exclusive school curriculum notes are written specifically for K-12 school teachers, so you can introduce and reinforce dance-related activities in your classes easily and without any research on your part. All the downloadable programs in PDF format are age-appropriate, with each segment having step-by-step instructions making them easy for teachers to use. Dance can benefit all students, not just those in the gym class or arts class, but there are aids for those classes as well. If you need any assistance with the programs or have any questions, please go to www.abcfordance.com. And click here for a full curriculum list with lesson plans.
There are a lot of benefits to taking a dance class - it's fun, you'll get a great workout, its a great stress reliever, it helps you connect to your body, and its a great way to express yourself. Plus there are studios all over Atlanta offering dance classes for both the non and professional dancer.
2) Donate to the Dancers Care Foundation's $1 Project
Dancers Care Foundation raises awareness and funds to help prevent cancer and ultimately find a cure. Their primary objective is to generate revenue to support medical research in the fight against cancer, with dancers and dance-related businesses at the forefront of giving. The result of their work provides funding to doctors and researchers for innovative clinical and genetic research. They rely solely on corporate sponsorship, united dance-community efforts, and donations from the public to run their programs. And best of all, they donate 100% of all funds raised, taking no administrative costs. Donating $1 won't take much, and you have the benefit of knowing that every penny will go toward the fight against cancer. For more information on DCF's $1 Project, click here.
3) Dance Education
If you're a teacher, National Dance Week's exclusive school curriculum notes are written specifically for K-12 school teachers, so you can introduce and reinforce dance-related activities in your classes easily and without any research on your part. All the downloadable programs in PDF format are age-appropriate, with each segment having step-by-step instructions making them easy for teachers to use. Dance can benefit all students, not just those in the gym class or arts class, but there are aids for those classes as well. If you need any assistance with the programs or have any questions, please go to www.abcfordance.com. And click here for a full curriculum list with lesson plans.