International Dance Day is observed annually on April 29 to celebrate dance as an art form and activity. It aims to encourage people to participate in dance events and learn about its various forms like hip hop, tap dance, contemporary, etc. 

The day is celebrated every year with a new theme. 

It was first commemorated on April 29, 1982, by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute of UNESCO to pay homage to Jean-Georges Noverre, a French dancer and ballet connoisseur. 

Noverre wrote ‘Lettres sur la danse et sur les ballets’ in 1970. The literary work continues to serve as an important record for modern dancers. 

One can celebrate the day by attending dance events, having a dance night with friends, or simply tuning in to one’s favourite tracks and performing a solo dance routine in their room. 

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Dance is a healthy and versatile activity that can get the heart pumping and boost mood levels. Various studies have deduced that physical activities like dancing or Zumba can be healthy for the mind, body and soul. 

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It is a beneficial activity that one can incorporate into their daily routine to ward off stress and anxiety. Experts believe that dancing can release certain chemicals or endorphins in the body that can boost overall happiness. It can also treat depression, post-traumatic stress and improve self-esteem.

American singer and dancer Michael Jackson once said- “Dancers come and go in the twinkling of an eye, but the dance lives on.”

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Another popular quote by American dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham reads-“You have to love dancing to stick to it. It gives you nothing back, no manuscripts to store away, no paintings to show on walls and maybe hang in museums, no poems to be printed and sold, nothing but that single fleeting moment when you feel alive.”

On this International Dance Day, indulge yourself in melodies and dance the worries away.