On April 29, Cadance will be hosting an International Dance Day celebration at the Louis Millet Community Complex.

This is the first event Cadance will host for International Dance Day. In the past, it has held spring dance marathons with its students.

This year, Gaea Jess, owner and artistic director of Cadance, says the academy “really wanted to highlight International Dance Day.”

All over the world, people will be celebrating dance on April 29. Jess says she is excited to take part with the “global dance community.”

The celebration will feature dance classes in a variety of styles, such as Bollywood, contemporary, Zumba and many others. Cadance instructors, senior students, and teachers from around the Annapolis Valley will run the classes.

Claire Newbery, an 18-year-old Cadance student, will be teaching jazz for mixed ages, and hip hop for children aged four to seven.

“I’m very excited,” says Newbery.

She participates in dance marathons every year, and is looking forward to the new event, saying it’s “a huge thing we haven’t done before.”

Door prizes – and possibly participation prizes – will be given away. Attendees have the chance to win an Oaklawn Farm Zoo family pass, an Upper Clements Park family pass, “Cadance swag,” and more. Boston Pizza will be donating pizzas as well.

Jess believes dance is important for people of all ages, and hopes to introduce new people to the art form on International Dance Day.

“Dance is something that everyone should be doing,” she says. “(International Dance Day) is about exposing (dance) to the community. Getting everybody to come out and celebrate dance, and to celebrate life in general.”

The day will wrap up with a showcase performed by senior Cadance students –Newbery included.

The event is free for all ages, but registration is recommended. To register or learn more information, contact Cadance Academy.

Jess hopes “the community takes advantage of this opportunity to get out and dance their socks off.”