Dance and the Child International and World Dance Alliance Panpapanpalya Dance and the Child International and World Dance Alliance Panpapanpalya 2018 joint congress provides a forum for young people and their collectivedance communities to develop local, regional and/or international dance related projects that support UNESCO’s goals.The UNESCO Goals for Sustainability and the UNESCO Seoul Agenda: Goals for the Development of Arts Education ask for action from all sectors of society to address global environmental, societal and cultural concerns.The Young People’s Gatherings program will facilitate the development of a united position in The Adelaide Declaration which aims to activate young people across the globe and articulate specific goals that may be achieved in Australia and beyond. It formed the basis of discussion during some of the Young People’s Gatherings program throughout the week.
The Adelaide Declaration
1. Dance and the Child International (daCi) and World Dance Alliance (WDA)propose The Adelaide Declaration as per the following statutes:
1.1 Recalling that on November 4, 2011, the 36th session of UNESCO’sGeneral Conference (Resolution 36/C55), invited Member States to ensure the follow-up to the Second World Conference on Arts Education by employing the strategies proposed in the Seoul Agenda: Goals for the Development of Arts Education and by implementing in a concerted manner the action items set out therein for the renewal of education systems;
1.2 Bearing in mind that “The Seoul Agenda calls upon UNESCO Member States, civil society, professional organisations and communities to recognise its governing goals, to employ the proposed strategies, and to implement the action items in a concerted effort to realise the full potential of high quality arts education to positively renew educational systems, to achieve crucial social and cultural objectives, and ultimately to benefit children, youth and life-long learners of all ages”; Eileen Kramer has danced through her life for a hundred years and, inspired by Somerset Maugham, says: Dancing through life makes me think about being in touch with the cosmic control of the world… I’d like our dance to help Indigenous peoples and the many refugees coming to our countries…124
1.3 Having examined the strategies and action items of Goal 3 of the Seoul Agenda with reference to applying “arts education principles and practices to contribute to resolving the social and cultural challenges facing today’s world”;
1.4 Recalling that on December 20, 2002 at its 57th session, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 57/254, declaring the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) (2005 –2014) and furthermore the Global Action Programmes (GAP) on ESD adopted at the 37th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, 2013(37/c Resolution 12) providing the road map in the post 2015 agenda;
1.5 Noting the importance of Education for Sustainable Development which “aims to help people to develop attitudes, skills, perspectives and knowledge to make informed decisions and act upon them for the benefit of themselves and others, now and in the future” with a view to helping “the citizens of the world to learn their way to a more sustainable future”; and,
1.6 Recognising the shared responsibility of researchers and practitioners in arts education and education for sustainable development to promote the goals of ESD in the years following the Decade of Education for sustainable development and the capacity of arts education to effect social and cultural change.
1.7 Recalling that on 10 July, 2015, on the occasion of the Dance and the child International Congress, ‘Twist and Twin: Exploring Identities in Dance’, the daCi Executive Council, Congress participants, and with respect to the Danish National Commission for UNESCO 2014-2017 Strategy, adopted the Copenhagen Declaration providing a dance agenda for young people and educators across the globe.
2. Dance and the Child International (daCi) and World Dance Alliance (WDA):
2.1 Calls upon dance and other educators to respect dance traditions and diverse perspectives.
2.2 Calls upon dance and other educators to explore innovative and inclusive ways forward that address UNESCO’s aims for quality dance teaching and learning using a 21st century social justice lens.
2.3 Calls upon dance and other educators to value and honour intergenerational learning and teaching in formal and informal contexts.
2.4 Calls upon dance and other educators to advocate for engagement with diverse communities and to engage in critical and empathetic perspectives.
2.5 Calls upon dance and other educators to explore ways in which they can listen to, empower and mobilise young people around the world to contribute to sustainable development.
2.6 Calls upon dance and other educators to work across boundaries with diverse disciplines, people and beliefs for sustainable growth and development. We aim to work towards a proclamation in Adelaide with respect to the Australian National Commission for UNESCO and other potential UNESCO National Commissions.