In celebration of International Dance Day we’ve gathered seven great tips to help you incorporate dance into your actions for IDAHOT 2016. Whether it’s a small individual performance, or a group event, dance can be used in many creative ways – either as the main focus, or as a smaller part of a big event!

1 – Hold a flashmob!

Originally designed in response to rules against public gatherings, flashmobs are now a popular tactic across the world. The idea is simple: A group gathers secretly in a public location, using text or social media to coordinate their meeting. The activists blend into the crowd until signaled to begin a special pre-planned performance.

It could be a highly-rehearsed, coordinated routine, or something much more amateur. Whatever it is, flashmobs can be a great way of engaging younger people and raising public awareness of an important specific issue.

For more ideas, check out some of the past events which have used flashmobs for IDAHOT.

2 – Use traditional elements

All across the world LGBTI individuals have existed as long as humans have, yet in many countries the idea that LGBTI identities are a recent invention still remains. Whether it’s traditional music, traditional dance, or both, incorporating traditional elements into a performance can help bridge the perceived gap between the LGBTI community and a culture’s traditional elements.

Traditional elements also help attract sections of the public that might not normally engage with LGBTI issues to your campaign, but is perhaps most useful in the way it can shift public perceptions.

For more inspiration check out Gay Gordan’s traditional Scottish dance group, or the London Gay Men’s Choir.

3 – Get a live band

If you want your event to draw lots of members of the public then one of the best ways is through live music! Not only is it a great way to put on a show, but can always be a great way of supporting local musicians, especially LGBTI musicians who might not often get a platform!

Search your local community for bands that can perform alongside your dance. It might seem like a daunting task, but it’s usually not too difficult to find talented and enthusiastic musicians who are happy to support a good cause.

4 – Busk or hold a street performance

If your group is very small, or even if you’re only an individual, then a street performance (known as busking in some parts of the world) is a great way to draw attention to your cause, or to raise important funds through donations.

In theory, all you need is a sound system and public space, but its good to make sure that your performance is well-rehearsed too. If you’re raising awareness make sure you also bring along information such as signs or leaflets too. In many cities you may need a permit or special permission, so check in advance with local authorities before you hold a performance.

5 – Contact schools and community groups

If performance isn’t your thing then consider working with a local group who are willing to support your event. Schools, community groups and dance groups are often eager to put on a show, and contacting them might be a great way to build links with the local community.

6 – Build a mobile sound system

If you have the time or resources then a mobile sound system is great for making sure your performance doesn’t have to remain static. Whether it’s a car or van with speakers, a bicycle trailer, or even a person-carried system, having a system that moves with you is ideal for parades, protests and marches.

Have a look online at other people’s systems, look around your community and see what you have available. You might find you have the perfect components for a mobile system already to hand!

7 – Make it loud!

Although dancing is a fun and creative outlet for communities, the most important aspect is its ability to draw attention. Bring colors, loud music, exciting costumes and other visual and aural aspects can ensure that your performance draws as much attention as possible.

When it comes to IDAHOT there’s no such thing as TOO VISIBLE! When you’re planning your performance you should always make sure you’re doing your best to ensure it’s as visible, loud and attractive as possible!

The Global Rainbow Flashmob for the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia 2013, saw loads of dance flashmobs all over the world – in cities as diverse as Johannesburg, London and Jakarta. Check out the Global Rainbow Flashmob video for inspiration:

The Global Rainbow Flashmob 2013 – Original Version from IDAHO Committee on Vimeo.

However many participants you have, these can be really effective actions, especially if you film your performance and share it online. As well as catching the attention of the public, this is a fun action, and you can get fit doing it.

Whilst it might be difficult to stage a dance flashmob with a unique choreography, like they are done by artistic or commercial groups, it can be simple and really effective to pick one well-known dance and to invite people to join in.

If you like, you can organise a rehearsal first (or post a video of a routine online first, so people can practice at home), or you can simply invite people to turn up on the day and express themselves in their own way – whatever way you like!

Whilst pop anthems are a great choice, waltz, rock-and-roll, samba or reggaeton could also be great alternatives – whatever style you like!

To make the video really buzz, you might want to organize for participants to dress in rainbow colors. Color combinations make for excellent graphic and symbolic results.

For example the dance could start with different sexed pairs of different colors (e.g. one man in yellow and one woman in red) and at some critical moment the dancers change partners and reassemble as same-sex couples of same color. The underlying image here is that each dancer has found back harmony with someone of the same sex!

As in Serbia, many thousands of people were affected by floods in Croatia, in the lead up to May 17, making some actions non-viable, and shifting activists’ attentions to supporting relief work. Nevertheless, various events did take place around the IDAHOT 2014, with actions planned in the cities of Zagreb and Rijeka, and on the mountain range of Petrova Gora. The Croatian government was also represented at the 2nd Annual IDAHO Forum in Valletta, Malta.

IDAHO Week Rijeka 2014

In Rijeka, communities came together for an IDAHO Week around May 17, 2014. Organisers advised, in the lead up to the event:

“Lesbian Organization Rijeka LORI proudly marks IDAHO in Rijeka for the second time and invites all to IDAHO Week Rijeka 2014. On May 17th at 9 PM at Art-kino we have organized screening of documentary film ‘Once again’, the very first Croatian documentary on lives of lesbians and transgender people. Authors of the film Noah Pintaric and Ana Opalic will announce the screening and talk to the audience afterwards, answer the questions related to the film. This warm movie follows lives of 4 lesbians and one transgender person in a five-year period and gives insight into their relationships, friendships, activism and creative work.”

For more information check out Rijeka LORI’s website or the facebook event page.

Laugh Out Proud

Rijeka LORI, together with other groups also held an event on Saturday, May 17th, with the main goal of raising (positive) awareness of the country’s upcoming Life Partnership Act (civil unions for homosexual couples). In the evening, there was a free showing of Stephen Fry’s documentary “Out There”, as well as stand-up event “Laugh Out Proud” with performances by LGBT comedians from UK and Croatia. Performers included Scott Capurro (UK), Lara King (UK) and Marina Orsag (CRO).

Organisers explained before the Day that the aim of event is to fight homophobia and transphobia with the strongest possible weapon – humor, and the goal of the project is to educate people about the LGBT community through laughter and in good atmosphere.

The entire project ‘LAUGH OUT PROUD’ is funded by Horyou, the Action Oriented Social Network for the Social Good, organized by Studio Smijeha association, Centre for Civil Initiatives Porec, Croatia and Standup.rs association.

Dance Out Proud in Zagreb

On May 17, LGBTI communities in Zagreb, came together from 23:00 for a “Dance Out Proud event at the Hotpot Bar. For more information see the organiser’s facebook page.

LGBT Affirmative Counselling Course

Also around the IDAHOT 2014, the University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapce in Zagreb, offered an LGBT affirmative counselling practice for psychology students, on May 14. This was part of the elective course “Applied developmental psychology” led by professor Goranka Lugomer-Armano, PhD, Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb.

Action by Coalition of Groups Merges IDAHOT 2014 and Anti-Fascist Commemoration

The organizers of the event (well-known institutions in Croatia such as the Serbian National Council, the Alliance of Anti-Fascist Fighters in Croatia as well as local municipalities), have this year decided to jointly commemorate this great anti-fascist victory and the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia. With this act they stand for a clear message that the struggle against homophobia is also the struggle against fascism and that anti-fascism does not only belong to the culture of remembrance, but is also a vital part of current struggles for better future, not only in Croatia, but also all over Europe.

Organisers explained, in the lead up to the event:

In times of current economic and social crisis that sows poverty and at the same time generates attacks not only on LGBTQ people, but also immigrants, national minorites, workers etc., we find it more important than ever to remember our antifascist legacy and use it to unite our seemingly separate struggles in one common goal: defending human rights and demanding equality for all. As an activist choir, we call upon mutual cooperation and solidarity of all groups fighting for the equality of us all.

Le Zbor, a lesbian feminist choir, performed as part of the action:

This year we are giving a performance at the 70th anniversary of a major anti-fascist event in Croatia: the breakthrough of the fascist army lines that took place on the site called Petrova gora and during which 730 partisans and 12 000 civilians, mostly women and children, were finally liberated from atrocities committed by fascist forces in this area during WW2.

Le Zbor choir, who participated in the IDAHOT 2014 in Croatia

Le Zbor is a Lesbian Feminist Choir from Zagreb. You can find out more about them and their work on Facebook or on and their website.

Zagreb Pride organised a series of events to commemorate the IDAHOT 2014, which included a focus on LGBT Refugees, Asylum & Migration, and on the rise of neoconservative movements in Europe.

Action on LGBT Refugees, Asylum and Migration

Organisers addressed the topic of LGBT Refugees, Asylum & Migration, with an evening of events planned around the topic of LGBT Asylum and the current situation of (LGBT) asylum in Croatia. This was organised in collaboration with other civil society organisations that also work with asylum seekers and refugees.

As an introduction to IDAHO, on Tuesday the 13th, activists organised a panel called “Immigration. Equality. Views from the LGBTIQ community”, where they addressed the topic of LGBT migration and asylum seekers.

The main goal was to raise awareness amongst the LGBT community that ‘LGBT asylum is something that happens in Croatia too, not just in the other EU countries.’

Conference on Neoconservative Movements in Europe

Another activity was also a conference about the rise of neoconservative movements throughout Europe – activists from some other EU countries were invited to discuss the issue, and to establish a network/coalition that will collaborate in the future.

Government represented at IDAHO Forum 2014 in Malta

Croatia’s Minister of European and Foreign Affairs, Vesna Pusic, also participated in the 2nd Annual International IDAHO Forum in Valletta, Malta (May 13-14). He signed the IDAHO 2014 Declaration of Intent – urging governments to defend and promote LGBTI rights – signed by Ministers from 19 European states in total.

The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2014 was the reason for various mobilizations in Argentina, across the country, in one of the biggest national movements around May 17, 2014, in the world.

The Argentine Federation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, together with ATTTA presented in the National Senate two initiatives, one for the creation of a National Programme for Comprehensive Health Care for trans communities, and one for the assignment for improved citizenship rights for trans communities. They also presented the agenda for the sexual diversity month across the country and an art exhibition of the internationally successful project, “I’m not a Joke”, by Venezuelan artist Daniel Arzola.

Also in the city of Buenos Aires, the Argentine Homosexual Community (CHA) and the theatre director Alejandro Modarelli presented the premiere of the play “Flowers on the Rust” which addresses the raids on the Argentine LGBT community during the dictatorship (1976 – 1983).

Around IDAHOT 2014, two LGBT rights bills were introduced into the Argentinian Senate.

Sigla organization also coordinated several activities including the third edition of the event, “Tango Against Homophobia” in which they showed dancing actions in more than 60 of the countries in the world which criminalize same sex relationships, and wherein: “You can not dance the tango in freedom.”

In the planetary city LGBTI Association 1969, which relates to the Workers’ Party, held a cultural event which was attended by renowned artists from amongst the LGBT community. On May 16 in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral, the organization MST Diversity performed with a hundred people a kiss-in, against LGBT discrimination by the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. Buenos Aires obelisc was also considered for events on May 17th. Independent activists from the LGBT community organized a “mass hugging” against LGBT criminalization worldwide.

Activists take to the streets in Argentina for IDAHOT 2014 to affirm equality and human rights for all.

The capital of the province of Buenos Aires, La Plata, also held a celebration organized by Franja Morada Diversidad, which organized various events including movie debates, academic debates and a cultural festival in the public square, Islas Malvinas.

The province of Santa Fe, in collaboration with local organizations, declared May 17 as the “Provincial Day Against Discrimination Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.” In the city of Rosario, the organization Kunst-Unidos Todos AC, performed the opening of the exhibition “My Jauregui” on May 16. The exhibition was performed by nine artists from different disciplines who have dealt creatively with the figure of Carlos Jauregui, a well-known LGBTI activist. Carlos Jauregui was the first president of the CHA since its founding in 1984 until 1987. In 1991 he founded GaysDC, organization he conduct until he passed away in August 1996.

Argentinian activists show solidarity with people living in the 80 countries in the world which criminalise same sex relationships.

Meanwhile, in the northwest of the country, in the province of Misiones, Misiones LGBT Association together with the Equal Opportunities Undersecretary of the Ministry of Human Rights in the Province of Misiones, together with other organizations, raised the rainbow flag for first time in the province of Misiones, on 17 May in the square of Mitre and Uruguay Avenues.

In the north, in Salta Province the second meeting “I am in your eyes” was held in order to promote and share information about LGBTIQ rights. The event was organized by the Municipality of Salta and ATTTA organization.

Street art for the IDAHOT 2014 in Argentina.

In the south, in the city of Bariloche, LGBT organization Colectiva Generando Generxs Bariloche created a mural in one of the neighborhoods of the city to raise awareness of the importance of non-discrimination. In the adjoining province, Neuquen, the organization Mesa Nacional por la Igualdad organized a solidarity collection of clothing and footwear with a cycle of “Cinema for Equality” with the premiere of the film “Stranger on the lake.”

Finally it should be noted that Fundación Huesped and ATTTA held the launch of the campaign Expectations starring trans women to publicize the inequalities to which this population is exposed.

In South Korea, communities came together for a photo exhibition focused on queer childhoods as well as a dance & musical flashmob under the banner “Speak UP, Act UP”.

Photo Exhibition

Korean Gay Men’s Human Rights Group Chingusai held a photo exhibition called “The Story I Can’t Tell My Mum” to commemorate the Day. The showcased photos were based on the online submission of the photos of Koreans’ queer childhood, accompanied by their “secret story” of growing up as LGBT individuals. Watch the blurb of the exhibition below.

Dance and Musical Flashmob

The Rainbow Action- a coalition of sexual minority organisations in Korea – added the festivity of the celebration of the Day by holding a dance flash mob in the Daehanmun square on May 17. With the title “Speak UP! Act UP!,” the flashmob aimed to encourage Korean LGBT individuals to embrace their identities and their rights in attaining basic freedom, such as freedom to express their sexual and gender identities. Watch the flashmob on the video below.

Various actions took place to commemorate the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia 2014 in Switzerland, in different cities, and spanning a great diversity of types of action and themes addressed.

Dialogi actions in Geneva – Love Does Not Differentiate

The association Dialogai in Switzerland developed, in cooperation with the municipality of Geneva, 3 main activities for IDAHOT. Firstly, a communication campaign on equality of all love, which was promoted in Geneva’s public transport systems from May 9 to May 18. During 10 days, all screens in the Geneva transport system showed a short slide show featuring three couples kissing: one straight, one lesbian and one gay. The 20 second long slide show concludes with the slogan ‘Love does not differentiate’.

‘Love does not differentiate’ – campaign for IDAHOT 2014 Switzerland

Dialogi campaign for IDAHOT 2014 in Switzerland

Stop Homophobia in Sports

Secondly, in collaboration with the City of Geneva, information booths were set up at the Jeux de Genève, as part of a campaign against homophobia and gender discrimination in sports. For this action, they worked with the visuals of the Stop Homophobie dans le sport campaign of the Swiss association of Sports services. 500 rainbow coloured wristbands were given out to young sportsmen and women aged 10 to 18 with the motto ‘Freedom to Love’ engraved in them.

UNAIDS Placemats Campaign

Finally, developed in partnership with UNAIDS, 10,000 placemats were distributed in restaurants and UN and school cafeterias. The pic and the list of restaurant can be accessed here.

Dialogi and UNAIDS infographic developed for IDAHOT 2014

Marriage Rights Event

A coalition of Swiss politicians from several political parties organised a gathering in the Capital city Bern in favor of same-sex marriage rights, thereby countering a current campaign by conservative movements to restrict marriage rights constitutionally to the union between a man and a woman. A march also took place in the city.

During the meeting, the city of Bern’s educational authorities presented the French and German versions of the ‘IDAHO lesson’, an official UNESCO lesson plan to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools.

Poster for IDAHOT 2014 march in Bern, Switzerland

IDAHOT Switerland Equality Video

Activists also produced this promotional video for IDAHOT 2014 actions in Switzerland:

Other Events

Various other events, such as a special club evening by the organisation 360°, or a dance evening in support of a Nigerian gay man who is threatened to be deported back to Nigeria, also marked the day in the country.

Seta, a major national organisation for LGBTI Rights in Finland, hosted a series of IDAHOT events in several different cities across the country. Highlights included demonstrations, picnics, street art, a candle light vigil and a house warming party. Cities with IDAHOT 2014 actions included Helsinki, Joensuu, Tampere, Lahti and Turku.

Helsinki

LGBTI Rights in Finland, Seta, Amnesty Finland, No Hate Speech Movement and other organisations hosted an information booth where people were invited to sign solidarity cards for Belgrade Pride (where authorities have previously banned parades before, most recently in 2013). People also wrote messages against Hate Speech and for Freedom of Expression for LGBTI people at the tent, where pictures were also taken.

IDAHOT event in Helsinki. Source: IDAHOT Finland

Joensuu

HOHTO, the regional Seta member organisation, hosted a whole ‘rainbow week’ of activities around IDAHOT, which started on May 8th. Actions included a rainbow mass, info desk, book club meeting, the Hohto parade, parties, free hugs action, a discussion on the political aspect of love and a Youth group get-together. On May 17, there was a silent demonstration in the city centre against hate and discrimination, and a picnic at Ilosaari. You can find more details of the week on their Facebook page.

Hohto’s promo material for IDAHOT 2014

Photos from silent protest against hate and discrimination. Source: Hohto

Lahti

In commemoration of IDAHOT 2014, activists organised a knitted rainbow graffiti installation at Pikku-Vesijärvi park. The event also included street art activities for LGBTI young people, near the central bus station. A picnic was also held to commemorate the Day at Pikku-Vesijärvi.

Tampere

In Tampere, the local organisation Pirkanmaan Seta held a memorial & candle light vigil for victims of homophobia and transphobia on May 17 at Keskustori. You can find more information on the event’s Facebook page.

Candle Light Vigil In Tampere. Source: Pirkanmaan Seta

Turku

In Turku, local community groups organised a dance flashmob on the Market Square, as well as film screenings, and a house warming party at the regional Seta office on May 17. You can find out more about the regional Seta group on their website.

Further information

Find more Information about the organisation Seta on their website and Facebook page.
They have also made a small video at the event in Helsinki which you can watch here.