International Peace Dance Festival

All over the world, cultural dance plays a big role in communication, expression, education and entertainment. In Africa, cultural dances play a big role in celebration and there is no national or community activity without a cultural dance to express victory. Dances are however performed in virtually in all seasons to communicate different moods and feelings at the community level from birth to funeral rituals. In the context of development, cultural dance has been very effective in the communication of social, political and cultural taboos such as HIV/AIDS, reproductive health issues, political themes, governance messages, poverty eradication, community networking, peace building and conflict management, gender development, promotion of cultural identity among other issues. Cultural dance has been used for entertainment and celebration at the family, community and especially on the national days. Cultural dance has been used for healing after wars and conflict management, peace and reconciliation ceremonies at the village, national and international levels. The Eastern African Region is endowed with very rich cultural traditions and expressions and the use of cultural dance is synonymous with life. Dance is focal in every community in Africa. Each community has its own dances just as it has unique cultures and language. The language of dance however cuts across all barriers. With the death of African traditional dress, only the dance and languages remains to identify the uniqueness of the African people and their rich cultures.

Despite the universal use of dance for social, economic and political reasons, there has not been a forum to assess the effectiveness of dance in national development. Purple Images proposes to implement the 1st International Dance for Peace and Development Conference and Festival in Eastern Africa to celebrate the important role played by cultural dance in peace building and community development.

The 1st International Dance for Peace and Development Conference and Festival in Eastern Africa will be organized annually and rotationally in the Eastern Africa Member Countries and will also be used as a forum to promote and reward talent, cultural excellence and in the Eastern African Community in the areas of arts, culture, fashion, entertainment.

For more information conctact AREGWA MUCHIRI
Phone: +254-20-722634947
E-mail: info@purpleimages.com