News from our Colleagues at Global Wellness Day
Global Wellness Day is gearing up for its 12th annual celebration on Saturday, June 10th, 2023 with the theme #DanceMagenta. #DanceMagenta is a set of actions centered around dance. In 2022, Global Wellness Day (GWD) reached millions of people around the world by placing its color–magenta–at the center of simple actions with the theme #ThinkMagenta; underlining that Global Wellness Day is not a single day, but a philosophy that spans the whole year. In 2023, Pantone, the world color authority, announced the color of the year as magenta.
This year, over 140 Global Wellness Day Ambassadors, Key Supporters, and volunteers invite people of all ages to live life with dance, bringing together the tangible and intangible aspects of dance with three basic steps: Dance with your body, dance with your thoughts, and dance with life; aiming to spread the #DanceMagenta philosophy to communities and beyond.
To #DanceMagenta you do not need to be a professional dancer, know how to dance or even need a specific place or time. It all starts with three extremely easy steps:
- Dance with your body: Whatever style you choose; dance is a unique form of exercise. Dancing is good for your body.
- Dance with your thoughts: Add dance to your meditation while relaxing. Dance in your mind. Free your dreams.
- Dance with life: Don’t resist, stay in the flow and trust the process. Add music to your life. Let music bring you happiness. Start your day with music, fall asleep with music. Take control of the rhythm of your life.
A Global Wellness Day Anthem
Taura Stinson
Global Wellness Day’s official audio partner, Myndstream, a platform that creates music designed for health and wellbeing, curated the GWD anthem “Good to You” by Academy Award/ Golden Globe Award Nominated songwriter Taura Stinson with producer Darien Dorsey. The inspiring and uplifting anthem is performed by powerhouse vocalist Brianna Mazzola, and will be released globally on June 10, 2023, setting the tone for a day of wellness and celebration around the world.
“Myndstream is proud to be the music partner to Global Wellness Day. With dance as the theme, Myndstream is providing the soundtrack for this year’s global festivities by collaborating with the amazing songwriter Taura Stinson and her creative team to create a timeless music anthem that reflects the vibrancy and freedom of expression that dance can bring. Music has the power to support and elevate wellbeing in individuals and communities alike and across global borders, so we’re excited to bring this music to the GWD community,” shares Freddie Moross, CEO of Myndstream.
“Dance is the universe moving within you. To dance is to free yourself and to be one with the world…” Belgin Aksoy
Academy Award/Golden Globe Award Nominated songwriter Taura Stinson says; “I firmly believe that when we all come together with a unified message, collective change happens! I am beyond excited to give voice to this wave of change, one ripple at a time. After all, we can’t be good to one another unless we are first good to ourselves, and “Good to You” reminds us to be good to our minds, bodies, and spirits! I am so thankful to Myndstream and Global Wellness Day for giving me the opportunity to share such a powerful and infectious message.”
Spreading Happiness
Belgin Aksoy
“To us, dance is the universe moving within you. To dance is to free yourself and to be one with the world. Dancing is getting away from stress, exercising your body and spreading happiness at the same time” says Belgin Aksoy, Founder, Global Wellness Day. She sums up GWD’s 2023 theme: “The theme of Global Wellness Day this year is dance; the idea came from Diane Stobo who is a leader in the global wellness industry. We named it #DanceMagenta. Because for us, living is dancing. The music of the universe never stops. Those who manage to become one with music are happy people. Dancing is not just a physical activity. Those who choose to live well are those who come to realization that dancing is also a way of thinking.”
This year Ibiza, Ghana, Belgium, Tanzania, Bhutan, Seychelles, Cameroon, Mauritius, Senegal, and Tunisia are among the new countries that have come on board Global Wellness Day. All in person and virtual events organized this year continue to hold three main attributes: educational, non-commercial and complimentary.
Below is a sampling of the highlights planned for GWD 2023 celebrations including dance workshops, flash mobs, contemporary dance for kids, family-friendly wellness events, healthy cooking demonstrations, Zumba, laughter yoga, and much more.
Italy – This year with Bruno Lanfranco, President of FEDERSPA has joined the GWD Italy team and with his efforts they are pleased to announce their collaboration with the Municipality of Turin, bringing together schools and dance enthusiasts in city squares. As part of this initiative, a network of Lindy Hop dancers will convene in 40 different cities across Italy to celebrate the spirit of Global Wellness Day’s theme #DanceMagenta. Additionally, the DavinesGroup and [comfort zone] brands will organize a range of wellness-related activities to support this non-profit day dedicated to living well.
Global Wellness Day Kenya
Kenya – Kenya is set to celebrate its fourth Global Wellness Day on June 10th, 2023. The event will take place at Anzana Gardens in Nairobi and will include activities such as Zumba, meditation, and complimentary wellness checks for all participants. In collaboration with Aarti Chandarana, a one-hour fitness class merging dance and Zumba will be held to remind participants that dancing is a form of exercise and an essential part of improving mental health. The event is aimed at promoting wellness and healthy living, and underscores Kenya’s commitment to creating a better, more vibrant society.
Morocco – The GWD Morocco team has forged a collaboration with the renowned International Festival of Contemporary Dance, “On Marche.” The festival’s 16th edition, held in Marrakech, will pay tribute to Global Wellness Day by featuring curated dance performances and conducting contemporary dance workshops for individuals of all age groups at the esteemed Es Saadi Marrakech Resort. Many more celebration events are planned for the day throughout Morocco at venues such as Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech, Iron Body Fit, Om Yoga, Sofitel Lounge & Spa, Agafay Luxury Camp, Hyatt Palace Taghazout Bay with the theme #DanceMagenta.
Serbia – Global Wellness Day 2023 will witness a grand dance gala event in Belgrade, organized in collaboration with Armydance Dance School. Distinguished dance schools from Belgrade and various other cities in Serbia will partake in the festivities and perform a spectacular array of Latino, traditional folk, and historical dance styles. Additionally, Mövenpick Resort & Spa Fruške Terme, Vrdnik, will host a large-scale outdoor event to mark the occasion. Continuing the GWD tradition at Mt. Zlatibor, several esteemed wellness brands and associations, such as Hotel Mona, Hotel Tornik, Institute for Obesity, NGO – Zlatibor Walking, and Gold Gondola Zlatibor will organize GWD celebration events.
Thailand – Thailand’s leading wellness resort, Chiva-Som, will host a series of wellness activities in collaboration with Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som in Qatar, as well as a special medical aid mission to “No Man’s Land” at the border of Thailand and Myanmar with Global Wellness Day Founder, Belgin Aksoy. Sindhorn Kempinski, Capella Bangkok, Pullman G, Four Seasons, The Standard, Santiburi Koh Samui, SAii Koh Samui Choengmon, SAii Laguna Phuket and SAii Phi Phi Island Village and many more will also be celebrating GWD on June 10, 2023 with activities such as beach cleaning, morning dance session, healthy breakfast, sunrise meditation, healthy cooking demonstrations, fitness workouts, Thai Dance lessons, kid’s yoga and much more.
Look for the hashtag #globalwellnessday and #DanceMagenta to follow what happens around the globe on June 10th.