International Dance Day 2025

Alberta’s Provincial Messages for Dance Day 2025

On this meaningful occasion, the Alberta Dance Alliance is proud to amplify the voices of three remarkable Alberta dance artists who embody the spirit of healing through movement. As we come together to honor the transformative power of dance, let us listen to their stories — stories of resilience, restoration, and renewal — and be inspired by their journeys.

On this International Dance Day 2025, let us heed the words of Anne Flynn, Galen Robinson Wapple, & Meghann Michalsky as we dance toward a future where movement is recognized not only as an art form but as a profound source of healing and hope. Together, let us move with purpose, with compassion, and with a commitment to nurturing a dance community that uplifts, heals, and connects us all.

Anne Flynn

As we mark International Dance Day 2025 with events to celebrate this ancient and enduring form of expression found across cultures past and present, I’d like to share my own small story as a dance educator. It’s from this vantage point that I learned about the impact that dance can have on young adults. Beyond gaining proficiency in executing movement sequences and rhythmic patterns, I’m referring to learning that moves from the surface to a deeper place of emotional awakening, an awareness of others, a felt experience beyond words.

In the hundreds of “Introduction to Dance” classes I taught to thousands of non-dance majors at the University of Calgary over almost four decades, a recurring comment from students was how good they felt walking out of the studio at the end of class. In course evaluations, students repeatedly mentioned that on days when they were feeling down, stressed, or tired, they looked forward to dance class knowing it might change their outlook: they would be together with other students; focused on very specific movement tasks that could range from full muscular exertion to subtle articulations; moving in unison to music. They would be surrounded on all sides by other students, some in sweatpants, some in shorts, some in tights, but with the common goal of achieving unison; individual differences were suspended in the moment to-moment collective action that is dancing.

Students rarely missed class and socialized more as the weeks passed. I no longer had to coax students from the edges of the studio into the centre as they began tossing their bags to the side and claiming space with confidence; the chatter volume rising week by week. By the end of term there was no stopping the flow of camaraderie, hugs and affection, the agreements to stay in touch. Students who had never had an opportunity to dance before talked about how good they felt to be more at ease dancing in front of others.

In these dance classes, we never talked about dance as healing, we just danced together and then enjoyed the high-fives, laughter, solidarity and warmth that often filled the studio. And for me, the healing aspects of dancing live in those expressions of warmth and affection, making plans to go for coffee, silent glances at the end of class that say—we’re good, we’re together, we danced ourselves into open-heartedness. It’s not spoken, but everyone knows and in some indescribable way, we leave the studio changed.

Galen Robinson-Wapple

Dance is the foundation that I build my life on, it is the gift that has allowed me to heal while providing me a career. For me, healing and dance are the same. As someone with ADHD, Tourettes and Asthma, the spiritual, mental and physical elements of dance are my main tool in managing my conditions. Because of my conditions it can be hard to settle and rest. Dance circulates the energy through my body, helping me regulate and regain a sense of harmony with my mind and body. Once the music hits my ears it’s like my nervous system takes a deep breath and relaxes. Being able to go out to the club on Saturday is the best medicine. The euphoric satisfaction of the bass and the subwoofer in my chest remind me that I am alive and life is worth living.

Before returning to dance and pursuing it as a career it was tough living in a way that brought me joy. Once I realized I needed to shift my focus back to dance everything fell into place. Not only did it allow me to reconnect with myself but it connected me to a new support network. The street community in Edmonton has always been a home for me. The friends and mentors I have had the joy of meeting have helped me grow and become the person I am today. It didn’t matter whether it was the Cypher, a battle, or a session there were lessons to learn, moves to pick up and practice, etiquette lessons and footwork conversations. The priority was and is the exchange every time, be it dance lessons or life lessons there was someone there to teach you.

I encourage everyone who can dance to do it. I sincerely believe that dance is for anyone that wants to try it. In understanding how you move you begin to understand yourself. My mentor always reminds me that “if you want to freestyle, first you have to free yourself”. Liberate yourself through movement and feel the power of dance as you step into a joyful life.

Meghann Michalsky

I believe dance is profoundly healing. It offers cathartic release, channels adrenaline, and stimulates serotonin. It creates a deep connection to the body while offering a path to transformation. Dance invites us into ourselves. It connects us to joy, to grief, to resilience—and to each other.

When I was younger, I struggled with intense anxiety. Dance was one of the few things that gave me an outlet to process emotions and access a sense of confidence that didn’t come naturally to me. It became a tool that helped me persevere and navigate the complexities of daily life. It taught me how to breathe, how to be in my body, and how to move through discomfort. It showed me that I am strong—and that I can do hard things.

Today, dance continues to be a safe haven. It’s also my profession, which is a gift in itself. Through movement, I process what’s happening in my life—both through improvisation and structured choreography. My choreographic work often emerges from personal challenges. Dancing, whether in creation or performance, allows me to go deeper into those layers and release them.

The layers I am referring to, have to do with memory storage. While the brain is primarily known for memory storage, new research indicates that cells throughout the body, not just brain cells, also possess memory-like capabilities. This discovery has led to the concept of “body memory,” where cells throughout the body can learn and store information, potentially influencing physiological processes and even impacting the development of diseases.

In the context of dance as therapy, this understanding reinforces what many dancers and somatic practitioners have long sensed: the body holds onto experiences—both joyful and traumatic. Through intentional movement, we can tap into these stored memories, offering the body a way to express, process, and release what words sometimes cannot reach.

Dance becomes more than an art form—it becomes a language of healing. Moving with awareness allows us to connect with the stories our bodies hold, rewire habitual patterns, and invite regulation into the nervous system. It’s not just about physical expression; it’s about emotional integration and reclaiming agency over how we inhabit ourselves.

Performing is one of the purest forms of presence I know. The mind must quiet, and all focus moves into the now. There is a stillness that arises in this connection between mind and body—a state where the external world fades and self-awareness sharpens. This creates a sense of “oneness” and “ wholeness” within the body and a strength that is deeply healing.

One somatic practice that I frequently do while sitting is to imagine a short brushing motion from one side of the body to the other—from head to toe—clearing unwanted or stagnant energy. It’s a subtle act of purification. Even when the movement is imagined, the body and mind respond. Energy shifts.

My process is my therapy. Art is therapy. And healing doesn’t always happen in one moment—it happens in a process. A long, honest, often non-linear process. My process saves me, over and over again.

International Dance Day 2024

UNESCO’s Official Message for Dance Day 2024

Dance is by its nature a pleasant, creative and beneficial activity – why would some people spoil the fun? Because they want to make money by cheating dancers. I use this opportunity to advise dancers to be vigilant, there is too much fraud in the internet.

– Events that have hidden fees or expenses – but they do not tell you from the beginning
– Schools that do not have the classes they advertise – they will try to organize them after you pay
– Teachers that teach without having been taught – they learn from their mistakes while teaching you
– False titles of studies or positions – a sure bet, who is going to check?
– Organizations with impressive names (national, international, world etc.) that are nothing but private businesses – you do not vote for their leaders
– Competitions where all contestants win a title – everyone a champion!
– Festivals that do not take place – you find out after arriving there

The above is only misinformation concerning dance, we did not touch the huge subject of general misinformation. You cannot stop fraudsters but you can stop people from becoming their victim. So, stick to what you know well and what you can verify for sure.

Prof. Dr. Alkis Raftis
President of the International Dance Council
CID, UNESCO, Paris

Alberta’s Provincial Messages for Dance Day 2024

On this joyous occasion, the Alberta Dance Alliance is proud to amplify the voices of two remarkable dance artists who embody the spirit of diversity and equity-seeking in dance. As we come together to honor the transformative power of movement, let us heed their words of wisdom and inspiration.

On this International Dance Day, let us heed the words of Usha Gupta and Rebecca Bissonnette, as we dance towards a future where diversity is celebrated and equity is achieved. Together, let us move with purpose, with passion, and with a commitment to building a more inclusive dance community for generations to come.

Rebecca Bissonnette

Happy International Dance Day 2024, you all. My name is Rebecca Bissonnette, and I welcome you into my creative space. I feel like every artist should have a creative space. And as a dancer, yep, you heard me. As a 46-year-old, over 250 pounds, queer dancer, I mean, listen to that. That was beautiful, just to say out loud. Because for the longest time, friends, I didn’t think that dance was very accessible. Growing up, I didn’t look like all the other girls. I didn’t look like all the other dancers. So, I really took that inside and it really hurt because I love, love to dance. And I truly believe that every “body” is a dance body. And I also believe that dance friends really are the best friends.

So that is why, in 2024, I feel so excited to say that I am part of not one, not two, but three different organizations that truly celebrate the diversity and the equity that dance can represent. The context just grows bigger and bigger by the day. And I love that little Rebecca is now able to look ahead or look behind; I mean, time travel is fun. But I’m able to say to little Rebeccas or little whatever your name might be and say that, hey, it’s changing. The landscape of dance is truly changing, and with that being said, I am so happy to be a part of organizations that are not only embracing that but they want to lead that.

I’m the operations manager for CRIPSiE. So, I love, love, love being a part of the CRIPSiE community, because often members of the CRIPSiE community are people that aren’t, quite frankly, considered artists. And that…that’s not okay. I feel like the context of accessibility needs to be so much bigger. And I love that CRIPSiE is part of changing that landscape. So, things like, is the dance floor accessible? If there isn’t first-floor access, can someone safely get up to the next floor with a ramp or maybe an elevator? Or do you have someone doing transcription for somebody who maybe needs a little help if their hearing isn’t so great? Maybe you need steps broken down for you? Because maybe English isn’t your first language, or maybe you have a traumatic brain injury, so you need things broken down into smaller steps that make more sense to you, right? And these are just three, only three, of the things that CRIPSiE is working to provide. I truly believe that anybody that wants to move their body should be able to. It doesn’t matter what your body looks like, how your body moves, what kind of movement you want to do. You should be able to, plain and simple.

I’m also very happy to be a part of F. A. C. E., which stands for Fierce and Curvy Empire. So, as a fuller-figured dancer, I’ve often been looked down upon, saying, oh, really? She thinks she’s a dancer? Can she really move? Yes, I can. Yes, I can. So, I love being able to bring dance to bodies that were often looked upon like mine. Because again, every body is a dance body. If you’re 3 feet tall, 10 feet tall, 90 pounds, 600 pounds, if you can dance circles around somebody and take small steps because that’s what your body lets you do, it shouldn’t matter.

I love getting to expand the context of accessibility and also include things like, Okay, my knees aren’t the greatest. Can you modify this step so that I can still look like I’m doing the step that you are? Okay, I’ve got more weight around my middle, around my stomach. I don’t feel comfortable doing that kind of body roll. Can we modify that or do something quite simple? And things like looking in the lobby of the dance studio you are going into and seeing if there are chairs where I can sit and wait? I know that sounds like a question that some of us take for granted, but some places don’t even take it into consideration. So, size does not affect ability Whatsoever.

Last but definitely not least is Mile Zero Dance. We probably know them as this wonderful, beautiful, contemporary ballet company, which they are. But, I love the residency, the outreach piece of Mile Zero Dance, because I love getting to take my love of dance out into the world and to other adults who may have never danced before or thought, ooh, I thought that was only for advanced dancers, maybe there’s something for beginners or taking it out into schools and getting to show children that telling a story doesn’t always have to use your voice. Sometimes, you can tell a story with your body, True. So I love that that message is getting out to the youth and adults who want to hear it.

So again, on International Dance Day 2024, I, Rebecca Bissonette, still and will always believe every “body” is a dance body. So, let’s get our bodies on the dance floor, shall we? I’ll see you there.

Usha Gupta

In the fluid movements of dance, we find the rhythm of unity.

As an Edmonton Indian classical dancer, I’ve seen how the art of movement transcends borders, languages, and cultures, weaving a tapestry of diversity and inclusion.

When I came to Edmonton from India in 1989 I did not know what modern or contemporary was. But those forms opened my mind to different ideas and content I could explore with Kathak. I believe that as an artist, whatever you think, you can present.

In every step and every gesture of dance, there is a celebration of diversity. Whether it is Kathak’s expressive storytelling or Bharatnatyam’s graceful eye movements, dance speaks a language that knows no boundaries. For me, dance has never been just about performing, but it has been a powerful tool to get my message across to the world. In my recent show Khoj or “Quest” in English, I got the idea to do it while standing at the ocean in Maui a few years back and thinking, My god, this ocean is endless! And some things never are. Just as waves in the ocean are endless, so is the journey of diversity and equity-seeking in dance. It is a continuous flow of process and transformation. With every movement, we embrace so many possibilities of inclusion, welcoming dancers from every background, identity, and experience. So, whenever you look at an ocean or a sea, always remember our Khoj or quest for diversity and equity in dance knows no bounds. Just like the ocean, dance has no final destination. Instead, it’s an ever-going journey towards a more inclusive and equitable dance community for all.

Let us dance not just for applause but for change. Let us use our art to build bridges, foster understanding, and create a world where everyone can dance freely, regardless of their background or identity.

Happy International Dance Day 2024 Everyone!

– Usha Gupta