For the International Dance Day we have prepared a musical selection of dance music that ranges from the classical – to 20^th century music, recorded from music records stored in the Sound Library of the museum Collection.

Dance is one of the oldest forms of art. It expressed emotions, was a part of rituals, people always danced while celebrating significant events. Each nation had its own dance traditions. Ritual dances were replaced by folk and salon dances, and then the basis of ballet – classical dance, emerged.

International Dance Day is a global celebration of dance promoted by the International Dance Council and the International Theatre Institute.

The event takes place every year on April 29, which is the anniversary of the birth of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), who is considered to be the "father" or creator of modern ballet (i.e. classical or romantic ballet as we know it today not "Modern Ballet" as this is sometimes confused with contemporary ballet.) The day strives to encourage participation and education in dance through events and festivals held on the date all over the world.

Dance is a universal language that unites people of different cultures and nationalities, and International Dance Day is an occasion to pay attention to this art form. It is dedicated to all styles and trends, from ballet to hip-hop.

There are also traditional official events, such as the annual address by a prominent figure from the world of choreography. The purpose of such a speech is to draw attention to dance's ability to unite people, its beauty, and to congratulate colleagues. The first such message was delivered in 1982, by ballet dancer Henrik Neubauer (1929-2024).

Among others were choreographers Yury Grigorovich, Robert Joffrey, Hans van Manen, Maguy Marin, Maurice Béjart, Jiří Kylián, Mats Ek, Stefan Page, Sasha Waltz, dancer Kazuo Ohno (one of the founders of the Butoh dance), dancers and choreographers Merce Cunningham, William Forsythe (creator of the improvisation technique), Gladys Aguillas, Akram Khan, Julio Bocca, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Lin Huaimin, dancer Katherine Mary Dunham, ballerinas Maya Plisetskaya, Alicia Alonso, Miyako Yoshida, Ulyana Lopatkina.

International Dance Day is a time for awards and prizes. In Russia, the only professional ballet award ‘Soul of Dance’ is presented on this day. It was established in 1994, by ‘The Ballet’ magazine together with the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

Since 1991, there has also been the Benois de la Danse, an annual ballet festival founded by the International Association of Choreographers. The first award ceremony and gala concert took place in 1992, on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.

On the cover: “Dancer Tamara Swirskaya”. Pаolo Troubetzkoy, C. Valsuani Art Bronze factory. France, Paris. 1911

The story of a masterpiece. Paolo Troubetzkoy. "Dancer Tamara Swirskaya"