IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 566 

Expressing support for dance as a form of valuable exercise and of artistic 

expression, and for the designation of September 21, 2019, as National 

Dance Day. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 

Ms. NORTON submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for dance as a form of valuable exercise 

and of artistic expression, and for the designation of 

September 21, 2019, as 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 American 

Dance Movement, has encouraged the creation of National Dance Day celebrations across the country, beginning with the first National Dance Day on the National 

Mall in 2010; 

Whereas the American Dance Movement and the John F. 

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in conjunction 

with the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, will celebrate National Dance Day on September 21, 


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•HRES 566 IH 

2019, in Washington, DC, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; 

Whereas National Dance Day has captured the imagination 

of people throughout the Nation and around the world, 

and has helped popularize dance as an art form, as a 

form of exercise, and as a way of having fun; 

Whereas States and cities across the country have been encouraged to celebrate National Dance Day with events; 

Whereas National Dance Day has spread and will be celebrated this year with 45 registered, independent events 

across the country, and 2 events cohosted by the American Dance Movement and the John F. Kennedy Center 

for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, and the 

Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California; 

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 full spectrum of 

dance, from classical, to popular, to line and partner 

dances; 

Whereas dance 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 in the United States; 

Whereas dance, in all its variations, is a popular form of 

physical exercise; 

Whereas this year at the John F. Kennedy Center for the 

Performing Arts, the following performers will entertain 


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and encourage dance: Debbie Allen and Debbie Allen 

Dance Academy, Tiler Peck of the New York City Ballet, 

Dominic ‘‘D-trix’’ Sandoval from ‘‘So You Think You 

Can Dance’’, Jerron Herman, the DEA Youth Dance 

Program, Lisa Traiger, Jones-Haywood Dance School, 

The Washington Ballet, Rima Faber, Dance Exchange, 

Dance Place, Knock on Wood Tap Studio, Melvin Deal’s 

African Heritage Dancers and Drummers, Heart Stu ̈ck 

Bernie, and the cast of ‘‘Fela! The Concert’’ with outdoor 

classes and performances; Motion X Dance DC, MYB 

Music in Motion, Dance for Parkinson’s Disease, Metropolitan Youth Tap Ensemble, Spilling Ink, LaBlast Fitness, Xuejuan Dance Ensemble, Candace Scarborough, 

MODELS INC., Lucy Bowen McCauley, Renee Robinson, Gina Safadi, Raediant Movement, and Carol and 

Herb Traxler with indoor classes; 

Whereas in advance of National Dance Day, instructional 

videos are available on the American Dance Movement 

YouTube channel featuring dance routines for all skill 

levels to be performed by audiences on National Dance 

Day; and 

Whereas National Dance Day has been celebrated annually 

for the past 9 years: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of National Dance 

3 Day to celebrate and encourage a national commit4 ment to dance and dance education; 

5 (2) acknowledges that dance is making an im6 portant contribution to health by encouraging phys7 ical fitness and reducing obesity; 


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1 (3) commends Nigel Lythgoe for his leadership 

2 in promoting dance and National Dance Day; and 

3 (4) thanks the American Dance Movement for 

4 their continuing efforts to spread awareness of Na5 tional Dance Day. 

Æ 


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