Address from the National Dance Association of Trinidad and Tobago
Dear dancers, dancers at heart, and supporters of art,
Today, as the global community observes International Dance Day, the National Dance Association of Trinidad and Tobago joins dancers, choreographers, educators, cultural practitioners and supporters across our nation in celebrating an art form that has long helped to define who we are.
Dance is history carried in movement. It is discipline, storytelling, identity and memory. It reflects the many influences that have shaped Trinidad and Tobago and preserves traditions that must never be taken for granted. From our folk forms to contemporary expression, from sacred traditions to festival culture, dance remains one of the most powerful ways we document ourselves and share our stories with the world.
This International Dance Day holds particular meaning for the Association as we continue celebrating our 45th anniversary year, which began on September 5, 2025 and will culminate on September 5, 2026.
Over this past year, we have worked deliberately to ensure that dance remains visible, respected and meaningfully supported. Among our proudest achievements has been the successful reinstatement of the National Limbo Competition, reviving an important cultural platform that honours one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most globally recognised art forms. We have also seen encouraging growth in participation in SPARK – The Schools Festival of Dance, which continues to create opportunities for young people across the country to engage in disciplined artistic expression, cultural learning and healthy competition.
As we look ahead, we are also preparing for the National Dance Gala in the National Academy for the Performing Arts on Sunday 6 September, which will serve as the closing event for our anniversary year and a celebration of the artists, institutions and communities that continue to move dance forward.
These milestones are especially meaningful because they have been achieved by a volunteer-led Executive Committee that continues to serve with commitment despite ongoing challenges. While there is still much work to be done, we remain focused on building practical steps toward the full realisation of the mandates outlined in our Act of Parliament and strengthening the future of dance in Trinidad and Tobago.
To every dancer, teacher, choreographer, parent, cultural worker, partner organisation, supporter, member and non-member who continues to stand with us, thank you. Your belief in this art form continues to sustain its growth.
Today, we encourage the nation to continue respecting dance as an essential part of our cultural development and national identity. It deserves investment. It deserves infrastructure. It deserves preservation. Most importantly, it deserves recognition as a serious and valuable contributor to our country’s creative future.
On behalf of the National Dance Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Happy International Dance Day.
Let us continue to honour our past, strengthen our present and create an even more dynamic future for dance in Trinidad and Tobago.