The 1st International Dance for Peace Festival in Africa

All over the world, cultural dance plays a big role in communication, expression, education and entertainment. In Africa, cultural dances play a big role in communication and celebration and there is no national or community activity without a cultural dance to express victory. Dances are however performed in virtually in all seasons to communicate different moods and feelings at the community level from birth to funeral rituals. In the context of development, cultural dance has been very effective in the communication of social, political and cultural taboos such as HIV/AIDS, reproductive health issues, political themes, governance, messages, poverty eradication, community networking, peace building and conflict management, gender development, promotion of cultural identity among other issues. Cultural dance has been used for entertainment and celebration at the family, community and especially on the national days. Cultural dance has been used for healing after wars and conflict management, peace and reconciliation ceremonies at the village, national and international levels. The African Continent is endowed with very rich cultural traditions and expressions and the use of cultural dance is synonymous with life. Dance is focal in every community in Africa. Each community has its own dances just as it has unique cultures and language. The language of dance however cuts across all barriers. With the death of African traditional dress, only the dance and languages remains to identify the uniqueness of the African people and their rich cultures.

Despite the universal use of dance for social, economic and political reasons, there has not been a forum to assess the effectiveness of dance in national development. Purple Images proposes to implement the 1st International Dance for Peace and Development Conference and Festival in Africa to celebrate the important role played by cultural dance in peace building and community development.

The 1st International Dance for Peace and Development Conference and Festival in Africa will be organized annually and rotationally in the Africa Member Countries and will also be used as a forum to promote and reward talent, cultural excellence and in the African Community in the areas of arts, culture, fashion, entertainment.

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Comment by Regina Miranda on October 5, 2009 at 5:58pm

I am sorry not to be able to attend, but I will be in Rio, directing the final event of this year edition of the Rio de janeiro Choreographic Atelier, a creative & leadership development project that I created in Brazil. I wish you luck and hope you will be able to share with us the perspectives that will be presented.