It’s often said that dance can express the unspeakable. Joy, grief, and despair become visible; embodied expressions of our shared fragility. In this, dance can awaken empathy, inspire kindness, and spark a desire to heal rather than harm. Especially now—as hundreds of thousands endure war, navigate political upheaval, and rise in protest against injustice—honest reflection is vital. It’s a heavy burden to place on the body, on dance, on art. Yet art is still the best way to give form to the unspoken, and we can begin by asking ourselves: Where is my truth? How do I honor myself and my community? Whom do I answer to?
Mikhail Baryshnikov’s 2025 International Dance Day message is a poignant tribute to the universal language of movement.
With eloquence and depth, he underscores dance’s ability to articulate the ineffable—transforming human experience into a kinetic symphony of emotion. His words champion empathy, kindness, and artistic resilience, reminding us that dance is more than a discipline; it is a vessel for healing and connection in an increasingly fragmented world. In the hands of a master like Baryshnikov, movement ceases to be mere performance—it becomes a force for unity, a celebration of life’s intangible truths.
