A programme by Performing Arts Fund NL to promote Dutch music, theatre and dance abroad.
29 Apr. '21
International Dance Day 2021: Message by Friedemann Vogel
#InternationalDanceDay #dance #worldwide #celebration29 April marks International Dance Day, the annual worldwide celebration of dance. The council of the International Theatre Institute selected German ballet dancer Friedemann Vogel to write the International Dance Day Message for 2021. For over 20 years, the multi-award-winning artist has performed on revered stages across the globe. Friedemann holds the national title of “Kammertänzer” – the highest distinction for a dancer in Germany.
“A world star who never lost the ground beneath his feet” was how Tanz Magazine described Friedemann Vogel when they elected him “Dancer of the Year” for the second time in 2019. The following year, the prestigious German Dance Prize honoured the Stuttgart Ballet principal dancer with the “OutstandingPerformer” award, in recognition of his longstanding and illustrious international career.
"Everything starts with movement – an instinct we all have – and dance is movement refined to communicate. Much as flawless technique is important and impressive, it is ultimately what the dancer expresses inside the movement that is the essence.
As dancers, we are constantly on the move, aspiring to create these unforgettable moments. Regardless of the dance genre, it’s what every dancer strives to achieve. So, when all of a sudden, we aren’t allowed to perform anymore, with theatres closed and festivals cancelled, our worlds come to a standstill. No physical contact. No shows. No audiences. Never in recent history has the dance community been so collectively challenged to stay motivated, to find our raison d’être.
Yet, it is precisely when something precious has been taken away from us that we truly appreciate how vital it is what we do, and how much dance means to society at large. Dancers are often celebrated for their physical prowess, when in fact we are sustained even more by our mental strength. I believe it is this unique combination of physical and psychological agility that will help us overcome, to reinvent ourselves to keep dancing, and to keep inspiring."
For more information about International Theatre Day, visit the website of the International Theatre Institute.
International Dance Day Message 2021 by Friedemann Vogel
"Everything starts with movement – an instinct we all have – and dance is movement refined to communicate. Much as flawless technique is important and impressive, it is ultimately what the dancer expresses inside the movement that is the essence.
As dancers, we are constantly on the move, aspiring to create these unforgettable moments. Regardless of the dance genre, it’s what every dancer strives to achieve. So, when all of a sudden, we aren’t allowed to perform anymore, with theatres closed and festivals cancelled, our worlds come to a standstill. No physical contact. No shows. No audiences. Never in recent history has the dance community been so collectively challenged to stay motivated, to find our raison d’être.
Yet, it is precisely when something precious has been taken away from us that we truly appreciate how vital it is what we do, and how much dance means to society at large. Dancers are often celebrated for their physical prowess, when in fact we are sustained even more by our mental strength. I believe it is this unique combination of physical and psychological agility that will help us overcome, to reinvent ourselves to keep dancing, and to keep inspiring."
More information
For more information about International Theatre Day, visit the website of the International Theatre Institute.