About daCi

In 1978 an international conference entitled "Dance and the Child" was held at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. Initiated by Dr. Joyce Boorman, the initiative received the support and participation of the National Dance Committee of the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

The success of that inaugural conference was such that those attending agreed it was important to keep this international forum alive. Thus, DANCE AND THE CHILD INTERNATIONAL (daCi) was born, with the special mandate of promoting an international network which facilitates the development of dance for children throughout the world.

In 1979 an invitation was received from the president of Conseil International de la Danse, UNESCO, Bengt Hager for daCi to join that organization. In 1980 daCi became an autonomous branch of Conseil International de la Danse and, in 1982, the members ratified a constitution.  Membership in daCi is open to those individuals and organizations that recognize the right of every child and young person (aged 0 – 18) to dance.

Members are linked through their National Representatives, who comprise the Advisory Board from which an Executive Committee is elected.  Some countries organize national Chapters and plan their own programmes.

OBJECTIVES OF daCi INT’L

• To promote opportunities throughout the world for children and young people to experience dance as creators, performers and spectators
• To ensure the dance interests of children and young people are recognized and developed
• To encourage and make available research into all aspects of dance for children and young people
• To urge all countries to ensure that dance is included in both general education and community programmes
• To provide for the exchange of ideas on dance programmes in school and in the community