Every three years, daCi organizes an international conference located somewhere in the world. Dance educators, dance teachers with their children’s groups, young people who love to dance, artists, academics, politicians, and many others who are moved by dance, assemble together to experience dance as creators, performers, researchers, participants and spectators. During this active week, filled with workshops, lectures, performances and meetups, international networks and friendships arise and last a dancing life.
daCi's most recent conference was hosted by Toronto, Canada from 10-15 July 2022. Dancing into Communities worked with local and international communities to examine how dance helps to make our world a better place especially in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic Dancing into Communities was delivered online for the first time ever with groups gathering locally to participate online globally.
You can now access conference proceedings via post-conference registration! Replay talks and performances from participants in over 12 countries from just $15-30 USD. Gain access to conference proceedings now: 2022 daCi Conference post-conference access Tickets | Eventbrite
We are thrilled to announce the next conference in Slovenia in 2024! Stay tuned for updates on submissions and opportunities to participate!
History of conferences
2022 - 15th conference: Dancing into Communities
July 10-15 Toronto, Canada hosted virtually (post conference registration available through 2023)
2018 - 14th conference: 2nd Joint World Dance Congress
July 8-13 Adelaide, Australia
Panpapanpalya: dance gathering generations learning
2015 - 13th conference
July 5-10 Kopenhagen, Denmark
Twist and Twin: Dancing Identities
Identity in dance as it is experienced in formal, non-formal and informal settings of education.
2012 - 12th conference: 1st Joint World Dance Congress
July 15-20 Taipei, Taiwan
Dance, Young People and Change
2009 - 11th conference
August 2 - 8 Kingston, Jamaica
Cultures Flex: Unearthing Expressions of the Dancing Child
2006 - 10th conference
The Hague, Netherlands
Colouring Senses
2003 - 9th conference
August 3 - 10 Faculdade Social Da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
Breaking boundaries: dance, bodies and multiculturalism
2000 - 8th conference
July 30 - August 5 University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Extensions and Extremities: Points of Departure
1997 - 7th conference
July 28 - August 3 Kuopio, Finland
The Call of the Forests and Lakes
1994 - 6th conference
July 12 - 20 Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
Kindle the Fire
1991 - 5th conference
July 29 - August 3 University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A
Roots and Wings
1988 - 4th conference
July 19-28 Roehampton Institute, Froebel College, London, U.K.
Young People Dancing: An International Perspective
Volume I - DANCE: Education
Volume II - DANCE - Special Education
Volume III - DANCE: Culture Community
1985 - 3rd conference
August 25-30 Auckland, New Zealand
Dance - The New Zealand Experience
1982 - 2nd conference
Children and Youth Dancing, Stockholm, Sweden
1978 - A beginning through a conference
July 25 - 27 University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Dance and the Child International, originally called I.D.E.A. (International Dance Educators/Education Association) was founded in 1978 at an international conference held at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. The conference was initiated by Dr. Joyce Boorman and titled "Dance and the Child". The idea was supported and promoted by the National Dance Committee of the Canadian National Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation. As a result of this successful conference, the Dance and the Child International (daCi) association was born and has been hosting a conference every three years since.