International Dance Day observed on 29 April

Key facts

• International Dance Day, also known as World Dance Day, is celebrated every year on 29 April.
• The official message for International Dance Day 2026 was written by Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite, highlighting dance as a human language.
• The date marks the birth anniversary of Jean-Georges Noverre, a French dancer and ballet reformer born in 1727.
• The day was introduced in 1982 by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), an organisation associated with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• Indian classical dance forms include Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Kathakali, and Mohiniyattam.
• Indian folk dances include Garba, Bhangra, Ghoomar, Bihu, Lavani, and Chhau.