This March, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) issued six mini-sheets of six stamps as part of its second set of the International Dance series, which began in 2016 to commemorate International Dance Day.
International Dance Day was established by the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) International Theatre Institute in 1982. It’s celebrated each year on April 29, which was the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre, a distinguished choreographer that brought about significant reforms in ballet production
According to UNESCO, dance promotes in a lively manner reciprocal knowledge and respect of diversity. Dance is both an art form and a method of communication in cultures around the world.
The $1.15 mini-sheet of six stamps (shown above) features
“Dance is what sets us apart and what brings us together,” wrote Roger Sinha, of Sinha Danse, for the Canadian Dance Assembly’s Canadian message, which has been issued in conjunction with the UNESCO message since 2005. “Individually, our unique voice is the authenticity that our bodies can express. Nobody in this entire world, the billions of people, walks the way you walk. Walking is just one expression of movement; there is also falling, jumping, skipping, running, shaking, turning and turning and turning until you spin. I spin my way; you spin yours. It’s who I am and it’s who you are. My individuality, the seeking of my own uniqueness, moulds the themes of my work: Indian, Armenian, Canadian, Québecois, male.”
“So mould yourself; spin your own tale. Then come together. Dance is the great unifier and so we need it now, as our world seems to be embracing that which sets us apart.”
SIX STYLES OF DANCE
The sheet of six 49-cent stamps features three traditional Polynesian dances while the $1.15-denominated sheet depicts a Native American tribal dance. The quadrille and the Japanese fan dance are shown on the one-franc and 1.50-franc sheets, respectively. Lastly, the € 0,68 and € 0,80 stamps commemorate the samba and the ballet, respectively.
ISSUE DETAILS
Date of issue: March 23, 2017
Artists: Pascal Campion and Jean François Martin, both of France; and Victo Ngai, of Hong Kong
Designer: Sergio Baradat (United Nations)
Denominations: 49 cents; $1.15; CHF 1,00; CHF 1,50; € 0,68; € 0,80
Stamp size: 30 mm by 40 mm
Sheet size: 140 mm by 170 mm
Stamps per sheet: Six
Printer: Cartor Security Printing (France)
Process: Offset lithography plus Hexachrome
Perforation: 13 by 13.25
Quantities:
– 49 cents: 22,000 sheets (132,000 stamps)
– $1.15: 22,000 sheets (132,000 stamps)
– CHF 1,00: 22,000 sheets (132,000 stamps)
– CHF 1,50: 22,000 sheets (132,000 stamps)
– € 0,68: 28,000 sheets (168,000 stamps)
– € 0,80: 28,000 sheets (168,000 stamps)
For more information, visit unstamps.org/product/international-dance-2017.