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

We are pleased to finally announce the Call for Proceedings of Panpapanpalya 2018: the 2nd joint dance congress of daCi and the WDA Education and Training Network.  This is a tight turnaround due to administrative delays and we look forward to receiving full paper submissions by 31 October 2019. Please click here to access Guidelines for submitting full paper submissions:

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.