International Dance Day, observed worldwide every April 29, was created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute ITI, the main partner for the performing arts of UNESCO. It is a celebration day for those who can see the value and importance of the art form “dance,” and acts as a wake-up-call for governments, politicians and institutions which have not yet recognized its value to the people and to the individual and have not yet realized its potential for economic growth.

Since its creation in 1982, the International Dance Committee and the International Theatre Institute ITI have selected an outstanding dance personality to write a message for International Dance Day each year. For 2021, it has chosen Stuttgart Ballet’s Friedemann Vogel of Germany to give the official International Dance Day message. 

His website, friedemannvogel.com, reports that the ballet dancer and multi-award-winning artist is honored by his selection as message-giver for this special day. “As a dancer, he is more used to communicating through movement, but hopes that his message can help in some way to boost the much-needed sense of solidarity in the dance community at this very challenging time, and shine a light on the importance of dance in the world, now more than ever.”

In celebration of International Dance Day, we are combining Vogel’s message with dance photographs and video clips from the Ballet Manila Archives in this special feature.

By Friedemann Vogel

Everything starts with movement – an instinct we all have – and dance is movement refined to communicate. Much as flawless technique is important and impressive, it is ultimately what the dancer expresses inside the movement that is the essence.

As dancers, we are constantly on the move, aspiring to create these unforgettable moments. Regardless of the dance genre, it’s what every dancer strives to achieve. So, when all of a sudden, we aren’t allowed to perform anymore, with theatres closed and festivals cancelled, our worlds come to a standstill. No physical contact. No shows. No audiences. Never in recent history has the dance community been so collectively challenged to stay motivated, to find our raison d’être.

Yet, it is precisely when something precious has been taken away from us that we truly appreciate how vital it is what we do, and how much dance means to society at large. Dancers are often celebrated for their physical prowess, when in fact we are sustained even more by our mental strength. I believe it is this unique combination of physical and psychological agility that will help us overcome, to reinvent ourselves to keep dancing, and to keep inspiring.

Choreographies:

Reve by Ernest Mandap

El Adwa by Bam Damian

Fuga by Gerardo Francisco

Bloom by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa

Walang Hanggang Paalam by Gerardo Francisco

Photos by Jimmy Villanueva and Katherine Barkman