14th Conference - 2nd Joint World Dance Congress
Panpapanpalya: dance gathering generations learning
The International daCi Congress, Panpapanpalya was an extraordinary experience. Over 820 people from 29 countries attended the Congress, with delegates from Taiwan, Finland, Sweden, Jamaica, Brazil, Slovenia, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand, to name a few. International events like these provide opportunities to meet like-minded dance enthusiasts, and connect and re-connect with fellow dancers and colleagues from around the world.
Panpapanpalya Reflections
“This daCi conference was an incredible opportunity for me. It was my first time overseas, my first time performing out of the country, and it showed me just how universal dance can be. People of all ages, races, social and economic backgrounds were working together to share their love of dance. It’s amazing to see what dance can do and how it can work in the hearts of people all over the world. We saw presentations from dancers, educators, funders, and enthusiasts, all who know the same thing: that dance is important in the life of every child, and every person. The experiences I had this year can be very influential to me in my own life, as well as in Hope College’s dance department. StrikeTime Dance Theatre is perfectly made to embody the ideals of daCi, and does a great job of bringing dance to children who otherwise might not see it. This conference has really inspired me to start a Michigan Day of Dance, a day where people of all ages can come together to dance each year. It happens annually in Utah and in other states, and StrikeTime Dance Theatre’s outreach is perfectly able to help jump start this project. The daCi USA conference at Hope in 2020 will be huge for dance at Hope as well as in Michigan, and will be a great chance to take what we’ve seen from this conference and apply it to our department. I am more passionate than ever about dancing, and this conference is the reason. It has changed my views on what dance is and can be, and on what role I can play in the dance community.”
~ Andrew Niedbala, Hope College
“One reason I enjoyed going to the daCi conference was because of the amazing dancers I met from around the world. It was fun to collaborate and choreograph with people who had drastically different styles of dancing than I do. It opened my eyes to how styles of dance can vary depending on where you’re from. It was interesting to talk with other dancers and learn about their cultures and lives outside of dance. Another reason I liked going to Panpapanpalya was because it helped me to become a stronger dancer. I also bonded a lot more with the other Kaleidoscope dancers who went. After three weeks together you really get to know each other!”
~ Sofia Tee, age 13
“Panpapanpalya helped me discover a personal love for cultural dances. Taking Contemporary Maori class with students from the University of Auckland and then seeing them perform a purposefully horrifying piece in the evening was quite an experience. I was given the opportunity to see two completely opposite sides of the dancers and also the culture.”
~ Agatha Schuman, age 15
“I learned so many things at this conference. But I especially loved working with my core group instructor David Williams. He was very funny. He called me Beyonce when he found out how much I liked her, which made me laugh. He encouraged me to do things that I thought I couldn’t do, like safely lifting other dancers who were bigger than me. He encouraged us to reach further through our dancing. He created beautiful dance, and good friendships, too.”
~ Henry Burton-Wehmeyer, age 13
“Over 820 people from 29 countries attended the World Congress, with delegates from Taiwan, Finland, Sweden, Jamaica, Brazil, Slovenia, the US, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand, to name a few. International events like these provide opportunities for like-minded dance enthusiasts to connect with fellow dancers and colleagues from around the world. I witnessed the young dancers from Kaleidoscope Dance Company from Seattle making friends with other young people from around the globe. All united by their love of dance!
Through dance, daCi shares a spirit of acceptance and celebration of different cultures. The Opening Ceremony was dedicated to the dance and music of the Aboriginal people, notably the Kaurna people. Classes were offered from many cultures throughout the week, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, Contemporary Maori dances from New Zealand, and dances from Java, Uganda, Spain, and South Africa.
Another highlight of the Congress were the eight evening performances given by youth companies from around the world.”
~ Anna Mansbridge, Kaleidoscope Director
“My favorite part of Panpapanpalya was performing at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and seeing everyone react. The dance was really intense and full of emotion so most of the reactions were surprised or shocked. Also, something that really stood out to me was how hard my body worked and how much fun I had in Ugandan dance. I also really enjoyed the Kaurna smoking ceremony and I thought meeting new people and learning where they’re from was really cool. I also liked seeing the traditional dancing.”
~ Maclean Dennis, age 11
