Earthdance – The Global Festival For Peace Р26 September 2009

On 26 September 2009 more than 340 locations in 60 countries celebrate the 13th anniversary of Earthdance – The Global Festival For Peace

Aligned to the UN International Peace Week and dubbed ‚ÄúThe Dance Aid for the New Millennium‚Äù (The Evening Standard, London), this mega-event‚Äôs mission is to encourage dancing with consciousness and fosters an environment of peace and harmony throughout the global sphere, while supporting non-profit humanitarian and peace-related causes.¬† In the spirit of “Think Global, Act Local,” each local Earthdance event donates at least 50% of their profit to a local charity.

The highlight of Earthdance on the weekend of 26 September is a simultaneous link-up, when every event across the world plays the 4-minute Prayer for Peace track at 4pm PST Рmorning in the Australian rainforest, midnight in London, and sunrise over the Himalayas Рa profound and powerful unifying moment.  In South Africa this will be 1am on 27th September. This year the global theme is “Blessing the Children”.

Earthdance encourages music and entertainment that is culturally inclusive.

EARTHDANCE SOUTH AFRICA

2009 is the 12th year that Earthdance will be celebrated in South Africa and there will be events staged in Cape Town, Johannesburg and KZN.

EARTHDANCE JOHANNESBURG

For the last 11 years in Johannesburg (Gauteng), a small group of private individuals have got together with little or no budget, setting aside their personal careers & business, and worked hard to make this happen on a voluntary basis –

To create an event that is :

• Global
• Charitable
• Family orientated
• Environmentally aware & educational.
• Inspiring wellness and healthy living
• Highly enjoyable
• Energetically entertaining
• Culturally South African
• Musical and cultural

and with consciousness in mind!

On 26 SEPTEMBER 2009 we will be staging Earthdance Johannesburg at a beautiful venue called Smoke on the Hennops River, just off the R511 which has a 500m river frontage, fields of open space, trees along the river and some funky features.  This year Earthdance sees a collaboration with “One Breath”, “Green Africa Party” and “Sonic Vision” – three organisations that have created parties and festivals with consciousness in mind.

As 24 September is a public holiday in South Africa we propose a weekend of camping along the lines of :

Thursday :  Gates open 10am and close 6pm that evening.  People can chill by the river and go for walks and there will be market stalls and other interesting things to see.  Evening: Movies, live and unplugged music Рspontaneous drumming and performances.

Friday : Gates open 10am and close at 10pm.  Full programme starts 2pm on Friday with talks, activities, kids activities, conscious cinema, ambient music, spontaneous live music in the evening and drumming.
* Saturday :  All above activities and more and starting at about 11am.  Full kids programme, kids performances and bands; 2pm – Main stage Bands from ethnic, soul, jazz, rock to trance and world rhythms – a cross cultural feast of music;

Bands including One Mighty Atom, U.F.O., Them Particles, Kim Catholic, Frankie Beagle, SATYA and Achimoto.

DJs – Benji Blaze, Drift, Gwen C, Ganji, Impulse, Sonic Druid and more!

Performers feature Hip Hop, Firedancers,, Dance Theatre, Oriental Dancers and more!
01h00 on Sunday Global link-up time when DJs in all locations play “Prayer for Peace”
Dance music continues until dawn;

Sunday :  Ambient, chill and unplugged.

Features of the Event : Large country venue with ample space for camping, walks and festivities;
Green Market :  Exhibitors who demonstrate sustainable living, reusable energy resources, bio fuels etc. plus wellness and beautiful market goodies, a section for kid’s products and educational toys, and food stalls;
Full bar as well as mead and brew bar; Coffee/tea and cakes; Smoothies or Fresh Juices;
Going green :  We hope to be powering our main stage with bio diesel and will have recycle bins for refuse at the event;
Heart Space – Healing and pampering area with head masseurs, reiki, readings etc.
Our beneficiary charity :  Zizanani (see below for more info) who will receive 50% of profits will be present on the day and the kids from Diepsloot will also be involved pre-event in creating artworks for the event;
Movies relating to environmental and socio-political issues;

This will be for all ages and cultures with something for everybody,  a music and dance festival of note to Give Back to the Earth!

TAKE ONE BREATH AND COME TO A GREEN AFRICA PARTY!!

Glenys van Halter started this year’s beneficiary – ZIZANANI in 1993 with her motivation being that she was an abused child and had to put her pain into action to assist other children in similar situations. Through her hands-on approach at grass roots level, Glenys has gained respect and trust of the community members as well as brought the reality of the terrible socio-economic conditions that people live in to the attention of the authorities, businesses and public at large.

If South Africa is to prosper it is essential that the youth in this country are educated and trained in skills.  Zizanani has created the Wings of Life Center that contains a youth and training center, kitchen, nursery school and primary school in the Diepsloot Community Settlement as well as having established small crèches throughout the settlement that are run by local mothers – ensuring the young children are not left alone at home and vulnerable while the mother is at work, leaving the children at risk of becoming victims of abuse and rape. Zizanani feeds 250 children a hot meal daily and ensures that they are educated.

There is also an HIV Home-based Care project, which cares for families with HIV positive members that are too sick to do anything for themselves.  A driver delivers hot meals to the 600 patients currently being supported. Any funding received will go towards the establishment of a Rejuvenation Center for victims of abuse and violence where they can go to feel loved, protected and safe and are able to get help and advice from social workers.  Also in dire need are seeds and compost for the vegetable gardens, which help to feed the children daily. Plants and trees are also needed for the project as well as a first-aid kit for the crèche / nursery school.

In past years our beneficiary charities were Fruit & Trees for Africa, Hospice in the West and Starfish Foundation and we have donated R8000 to All Our Children First Рa sanctuary  based in Edenvale for children suffering from Aids and abused and abandoned children.

Press & Sponsors :  Earthdance Johannesburg has a commemorative 10-year double DVD featuring video clips and music from the past until the year 2007.

If you are interested in receiving a copy, please contact Diana on the number below.

Contacts :
General Info :
Diana 082 300 8117
Aragorn  082 557 3912
Merryn   078 284 8168
Or email : earthdance@sundancer.co.za
Earthdance Johannesburg :  http://www.earthdance.org.za
Earthdance International : http://www.earthdance.org

BACKGROUND INFO

In 1996, Earthdance founder, Chris Dekker, began organizing Earthdance equipped with only a fax machine, a telephone and a strong vision “to unite the world through the universal platform of music and dance to affirm peace and celebrate cultural diversity.” Today, as the 13th Anniversary of Earthdance approaches, the event has grown into what is now the world’s largest music and dance celebration.

Earthdance International, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.

GIVE PEACE A DANCE!