Norton Introduces Resolution Leading into July 27th National Dance Day Celebration
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a resolution, H.RES.304, to mark Saturday, July 27th as the date for the 2013 National Dance Day, celebrated annually on the last Saturday of July. This year's celebration will take place on Saturday, July 27, 2013, from 1:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., at the Kennedy Center on North Plaza. National Dance Day celebrations began on the Mall in the District of Columbia and in Los Angeles, California four years ago. However, today there are National Dance Day celebrations in an increasing number of localities to celebrate dancing as an art form and to encourage all forms of dance as physical exercise to defeat the epidemic of obesity. This year's National Dance Day celebration in the nation's capital, in collaboration with Norton, is sponsored by the Kennedy Center and the Dizzy Feet Foundation, and was established by producer and celebrity judge Nygel Lythgoe of So You Think You Can Dance.
"As our National Dance Day enters its fourth year, support, popularity and excitement have grown here and nationwide," Norton said. "National Dance Day is a participatory celebration here, throughout the United States and all over the world. I am particularly grateful to the Kennedy Center for helping us take National Dance Day to a greater level of participation by the public and the Dizzy Feet Foundation for their efforts to promote dance here and throughout the nation. Dance is a natural exercise, and a lot of fun too."
Norton first introduced a resolution to mark National Dance Day in 2010.
The text of her resolution to designate July 27th as 2013 National Dance Day follows.
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for dancing as a form of valuable exercise and artistic expression, and for the designation of July 27, 2013, as National Dance Day.
Whereas the last Saturday in July is an appropriate day to annually celebrate National Dance Day;
Whereas Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer and celebrity judge for the dance-themed television show `So You Think You Can Dance', in association with the Dizzy Feet Foundation, has encouraged the creation of National Dance Day in nations around the world, beginning with the first National Dance Day in 2010;
Whereas the Dizzy Feet Foundation and the Kennedy Center, in conjunction with the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, will celebrate National Dance Day on Saturday, July 27, 2013, in the Nation's Capital at the Kennedy Center;
Whereas National Dance Day has captured the imagination of people throughout the Nation and around the world and has helped popularize dancing as an art, for fun, and as a form of exercise;
Whereas National Dance Day encourages many forms of dance expression, representing the Nation's rich artistic, regional, ethnic, and racial diversity;
Whereas National Dance Day features the spectrum of dance, from classical to popular to line and partner dances;
Whereas dancing helps improve heart health, burn calories, strengthen muscles, and improve flexibility for people of all ages;
Whereas health officials have repeatedly documented an overweight and obesity epidemic among every age group in the United States;
Whereas dancing, in all its variations, is a popular form of physical exercise;
Whereas National Dance Day in the Nation's Capital will begin at 1 p.m. with performances by Dizzy Feet, Esperonto Bean and Stefani Thomas, CityDance, Doonya Dance, Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company, Joy of Motion Dance Center's Youth Dance Ensemble, Just Tap, Nomad Dancers, Dr. Janaki Rangarajan, Smooth & EZ, Washington Ballet, TheArc, and Doug Yeuell;
Whereas National Dance day will also have performances by Culture Shock and the Manzari Brothers on the Millennium Stage honoring James A. Johnson, Kennedy Center Chairman Emeritus and Millennium Stage founder; and
Whereas National Dance Day in the Nation's Capital will culminate at 8 p.m. with `Dancing Under the Stars' dance lessons offered by Tito Rodriguez, Jr. and performances by Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) supports the designation of National Dance Day to celebrate the national commitment to dance education and physical fitness;
(2) acknowledges that dance is making an important contribution to health by encouraging physical fitness and reducing overweight and obesity; and
(3) commends Nigel Lythgoe for his leadership in promoting National Dance Day.