We were saddened to learn of the death of Joyce Boorman on Friday 23rd March 2024, aged 91.
Joyce was the initiator of the first ‘Dance and the Child’ conference in 1978 at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada with a program centring on the child as creator, performer and spectator. This resulted in an international gathering of concerned people from the world of children's dance and subsequently led to the formal establishment of the organisation dance and the Child international – daCi - at the Stockholm, Sweden conference in 1982. You can find more on Joyce's legacy to our conferenes by scrolling to the bottom of this conference history page.
We heard from Joyce’s friend, Jan Vallance that, two days before she died, Joyce went with the nurse to a musical entertainment where she sang, clapped and danced with everyone, encouraging the hesitant also to join in. She will be cremated and finally laid to rest on the white cliffs of Dover near her home at Folkestone, Kent, England.
Some daCi members knew Joyce personally, many know of her work with dance and children which inspired us all. Her important legacy lives on with us through daCi and our triennial conferences.
You can upload reminiscences of Joyce in the daCi Members Area Tribute Group or via our Facebook group in a comment.
A full obituary will follow soon.
Many daCi members around the world seek the opportunity to attend a daCi international conference, to benefit from the shared expertise and rich experiences offered, resulting in exchanges and communications. Consequently, daCi has developed initiatives that enables its members to collaborate on projects such as Twinning, Outreach and Across Borders Research.
Please check the guidelines and application forms.
daCi Twinning Project
Guidelines (.doc)
Application Form (.doc)
daCi Outreach Project
Guidelines (.doc)
Application Form (.doc)
daCi Across Borders Research Project
Guidelines (.doc)
Application Form (.doc)
Send Twinning, Outreach and Across Borders Research questions and applications to the daCi Secretary at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
A major congratulations to members Anna Mansbridge and Carolyn Russell-Smith who have recently been published by Taylor & Francis in an issue of Dance Education in practice. The article, "Connecting Across Countries and Cultures", spotlights a daCi Twinning Project from the Virtual Dancing Into Communities conference and is exemplary of the cultural exchange and enrichment made possible by Twinning and other daCi initiatives.
The article describes how these two dance educators brought their students together to embody elements of eighteenth-century European court dance and Jamaican and Caribbean folk forms on a virtual platform, and to create short choreographic studies combining elements of the two dance genres. Carolyn Russell-Smith is the Artistic Director of Khulcha Theatre School of Dance in Jamaica, and she is also the daCi National Representative of Jamaica. Anna Mansbridge is the Artistic Director of Kaleidoscope Dance Company in Seattle, Washington, is a past chair of daCi USA, and is the current secretary for daCi.
Past daCi Chair Susan Koff says, "Everything in that class, with students from two different countries and many different backgrounds, embodies what daCi is all about. It was so thrilling for me to see it all in such a warm and genuine expression. Your students are really exemplary in their commitment, focus and generosity." Here is an image of the group from the artice being lead through Ann Green Gilbert's BrainDance by Anna Mansbridge.
We hope that you will enjoy the article as an example of how Twinning can bring dancers from various backgrounds together and see how you and your dancers may get involved in a future Twinning project for the 2024 Slovenia Conference!
Details on submitting can be found by scrolling to the bottom of the 2024 conference registration page here. https://daci2024.org/registration.html
Attention members! Our August 2023 Newsletter edition is now LIVE in the members area and features Advisory Board Introductions, conference submission news and more! Please log-in to the members area to read your copy: https://daci.international/welcome-to-the-members-area/member-newsletters
Dear daCi Community, We hope this message finds you well and filled with the same excitement and anticipation that we have for the upcoming daCi 2024 Conference, that will take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia. As a valued member of the Dance and Child International network, we are thrilled to invite you to connect with us in a new and engaging way through our brand-new
Instagram profile dedicated to the daCi 2024 Conference!
Follow us on Instagram: @daciconference2024
Stay Informed: Our Instagram profile will be the hub of all things daCi 2024 Conference-
related. From key dates and schedule announcements to speaker highlights and behind-the-
scenes glimpses, you'll find it all in one place. Stay informed and be the first to know about
any updates or changes.
Exclusive Content: Get ready for exclusive content that you won't find anywhere else.
We'll be sharing inspiring stories, interactive challenges, and interviews with dance
educators, artists, and participants. This is your chance to be part of the daCi 2024 journey
from the very beginning.
Visual Delights: They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and on our Instagram,
you'll experience the magic of the conference through stunning visuals. From vibrant dance
performances to the smiles of participants, our photos and videos will capture the essence
of the daCi 2024 Conference.
Community Connection: Connect with fellow dance enthusiasts, educators, and advocates
from around the world who share your passion for dance and the empowerment of children.
Our Instagram profile will serve as a virtual meeting point where you can exchange ideas,
share your thoughts, and be part of a global community.
✨ How to Follow Us ✨ Following us on Instagram is easy:
1. Open the Instagram app on your smartphone or visit www.8dc6460bbbb088757ed67ed8fb316b1b-gdprlock.
2. Search for "@ daciconference2024" in the search bar.
3. Click the "Follow" button to stay connected.
We believe that by joining us on Instagram, you'll not only enhance your daCi 2024 Conference experience but also contribute to the growing movement of dance and empowerment for children worldwide. Your support and engagement mean the world to us, and we can't wait to embark on this exciting journey together. Thank you for being a part of the daCi family. We're looking forward to connecting with you on Instagram and sharing the unfolding daCi 2024 story.
Warm regards,
Ljubljana daCi conference 2024 organizing comittee
P.S. Feel free to spread the word! Share this invitation with your dance-loving friends and fellow daCi members so that they too can join us on Instagram for all things daCi 2024 Conference. Let's make this conference an unforgettable experience for everyone involved!
WEBSITE LINK: https://daci2024.org/theme.html
We are very pleased to announce the next conference in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana. You are welcome from July 7 to 12, 2024 in one of the smallest European capitals, a university city, a green capital of culture, arts and festivals. The conference is supported by the Faculty of Education of the University of Ljubljana and the Republic of Slovenia Public Fund for Cultural Activities, Department of Dance.
In line with the goals of daCi and the philosophy of the daCI conference, the conference will focus on young people's learning through the movement of the dancing body. The conference in Ljubljana will focus on creative dance and promote the I - imagination, improvisation, inclusion, identity, intelligence and interdisciplinarity in dance. Visit the website for a full curatorial statement: https://daci2024.org/theme.html
Hosted by Vesna Geršak, Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana and Nina Meško, RS Public Fund for Cultural Activities, Department of Dance. Watch their welcome video and the full conference trailer below! Visit the webiste here: https://daci2024.org/theme.html
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS CONFERENCE HERE: https://daci2024.org/theme.html