International Dance Day 2018

Initiated in 1982 by the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO International Theatre Institute, International Dance Day falls on April 29 of every year, commemorating the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre, a distinguished choreographer that brought about significant reforms in ballet production. Since 2005, the Canadian Dance Assembly has issued a Canadian message in conjunction with the UNESCO message. This year, CDA invited Vivine Scarlett of Dance Immersion to share her inspirational message to all Canadians.

The universal movement of dance releases the very essence of what is all around us. It connects and weaves so deep that one can feel the wisdom, patience and graciousness of its flow. With each move made there is a giving and receiving communication in that universal experience. Dance is a vehicle that lends itself to learning about oneself. It helps us move through life’s experiences by expressing our stories and our history, by commenting on our present and nurturing our future.Dance for you.
Dance for us.
Just dance and let the rhythm of our spirits soar in the movement of DANCE.

~ Vivine Scarlett


Vivine Scarlett is an administrator, choreographer, and instructor, whose artistic goals and aspirations are rooted in the love of dance. She is the Founder and Executive Director for dance Immersion, an organization that presents, produces and supports dancers and dances of the African Diaspora and provides a variety of programs for children and adults. Vivine’s contributions to the field of dance are generated from an energy that has fuelled her passion leading her on a journey for over 34 years of giving and serving through the arts. As former Artistic Director and performing member of the Usafiri Dance & Drum Ensemble, Vivine created and presented works in both traditional influenced African and contemporary African dance styles.

Drawn to all kinds of dance expressions and movement, Ms. Scarlett’s passion has manifested many experiences that have served Canadian artists of African descent with opportunities that have laid a foundation for continued growth and representation. Vivine is the recipient of the 2016 Dance Ontario Lifetime Achievement award with numerous other awards which some include: Planet Africa Heritage Award received for her contributions; a Chalmers Arts Fellowships to work with youth in Ghana, West Africa; Dora Mavor Moore award for her choreographic endeavours in the theatre production of “The Adventures of a Black Girl in search of God”; a Dora nomination for her work in “The Freedom of dreams: The Story of Nelson Mandela” and a K.M. Hunter Dance Artist award to list a few. Ms. Scarlett has taught for numerous institutions and organizations throughout Canada.

Her efforts to connect international Blacks in dance to Canada has resulted in dance Immersion bringing two youth organizations to perform in Ghana West Africa. Under her guidance, dance Immersion has hosted two International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) Conference & Festival and preparing to host this event again in 2021. Vivine continues her creative explorations as a freelance choreographer while nurturing a new generation in arts administration.

International Dance Day Youth Messages submitted to Alberta Dance Alliance

Sophie Margaret Leiteh – Grade 7 ~ “I dance for myself, I do not dance for you. I do not dance for the technique, but my body. I dance for the choreography and for the music. I do not dance for approval, recognition. I dance to instill that small feeling into onlookers that is so indescribable. When we begin to dance not for the sake of dance, but for the sake of competition, we lose the dance itself. And so take the critique and tips and listen to your teachers, and those critics that pick you apart and try to separate movement from technique. But when you dance, dance for dance. When the going is tough, and the success is little, that is when you separate artist from athlete. And when we dance for others, dance for their hearts, not their minds.”

Anna Johnson – Grade 7 ~ “Dance is a universal language. Dance can communicate everything about someone. When i dance, I feel as if a weight is being lifted from my shoulders. Dance makes me feel vulnerable and strong at the same time. Dance is more than an art form, It is a life style.”

UNESCO International Messages – April 29, 2018

Initiated in 1982 by the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO International Theatre Institute, International Dance Day falls on April 29 of every year, commemorating the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre, a distinguished choreographer that brought about significant reforms in ballet production. Every year, an international message authored by a well-known dance personality is circulated around the world as part of International Dance Day celebrations. Check the ITI Unesco website to view the international message.

To celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the International Theatre Institute and to underline the cross-cultural and international aspect of this common language – Dance, the Executive Council and the International Dance Committee of ITI have selected five message authors to write a message – one from each of the five UNESCO Regions: Africa, the Americas, Arab Countries, Asia Pacific and Europe.

Africa: Salia SANOU, Burkina Faso
>>More info about Salia SANOU
>>International Dance Day 2018 Message Salia SANOU

Arab countries: Georgette GEBARA, Lebanon
>>More info about Georgette GEBARA
>>International Dance Day 2018 Message by Georgette GEBARA
Asia Pacific: Willy TSAO, Hong Kong, China
>>More info about Willy TSAO
>>International Dance Day 2018 Message by Willy TSAO

Europe: Ohad NAHARIN, Israel
>>More info about Ohad NAHARIN
>>International Dance Day 2018 Message by Ohad NAHARIN

The Americas: Marianela BOAN, Cuba
>>More info about Marianela BOAN
>>International Dance Day 2018 Message by Marianela BOAN