Every year our nation devotes a whole week to celebrating our love of dance. National Dance Week is from April 20th – 28th, and this year the National Dance Foundation is asking “What Will You Dance For?” focusing on three specific initiatives of inclusion, kindness, and community through dance.

The inclusion initiative focuses on “A Chance to Dance” which provides support and tools to studios and teachers in order to help those who are differently abled or have special needs the ability to find classes where they can be welcomed and included.

The kindness initiative is about bullying prevention and emphasizes the empowerment and self-confidence that comes from dance noting that “Dance Empowers – Empowerment is Strength – Strength Creates Change” . Dancers are encouraged to use that strength to stand up not just for themselves but others as well.

Finally, the community initiative encourages studios and students to get out into their community and include the public in their love of dance by inviting them to participate, or performing in public.

Each initiative has different contests that studios and students across the country can participate in with flash mobs, photo contests, or learning and filming choreography to submit to celebrate dance and all it can do not only for individual dancers but their communities as a whole. You can check out each initiative in the links above or here at the National Dance Foundation page.

Happy National Dance Week! How will you celebrate?