In the wise words of David Bowie, put on your red shoes and dance on International Dance Day.
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Celebrated on April 29, International Dance Day was declared in 1982 by the UNESCO International Dance Council.
Folk Dance Australia will celebrate International Dance Day with a 'come and try' morning on Thursday, April 29, 2021.
The group in Bowral has been practising a huge variety of international folk dances for more than 20 years, where they learn dances from countries such as France, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Russia, UK and the USA.
These are authentic dances taught by a trained International Folk Dance teacher with materials collected from workshops brought out by tutors to Folk Dance Australia.
Group coordinator Margaret Connor said folk dancing leads to a sense of belonging to a wider circle that knows the dances are still performed.
"Not only is there the physical joy of dancing, experiencing different rhythms, pace, and styles, but there is associated background to the dance such as the tradition of the dances in the village context, the story of the dance, the poetry or the song to the dance," she said
"Locally the group has collected or made appropriate costumes and have performed in hostels and nursing homes and even pre-schools where we often involve the audience in some simple movements of the dances.
"If people have travelled overseas, gone on cruises or attended folkloric concerts when visiting foreign countries, they would have seen a Zorba performed or witnessed people dancing in the streets during village festivities where everyone from children to elderly knows and perform the dances.
"Here in Australia, we want to foster the same idea that dance remains appropriate and a viable activity."
The group meets Thursday mornings at the Bowral Presbyterian Hall in Bendooley st between 11:20 am - 12:30 pm. For further information call Margaret on 0466 166 866.
For classes in other areas visit www.folkdanceaustralia.org.au
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