Cyprus actively participates in EarthDance – the largest globally-synchronized dance event in the world that takes place in over 300 locations in more than 60 countries

PeacePlayers International-Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot HasDer Folk Arts Foundation teamed up to host EarthDance 2009 on both sides of Nicosia’s dividing Green Line. Thousands of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot youth came together on Saturday, September 26, first to play basketball in Phaneromeni Square in southern Nicosia and then to dance together in Selimye Square in northern Nicosia well into the morning hours of Sunday, September 27. The event—sponsored by the USAID-funded UNDP Action for Cooperation and Trust program—brought together girls, boys, teachers, students, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, athletes, musicians, plain old kids and journalists, who covered the event widely.

Cyprus actively participates in EarthDance – the largest globally-synchronized dance event in the world that takes place in over 300 locations in more than 60 countries. Earthdance is a non-profit organization created in 1996 which uses the global language of music, dance and technology to support humanitarian causes. On September 26, 2009, thousands of participants all over the world—including Nicosia, Cyprus—joined in a synchronized Prayer for Peace.

PeacePlayers International-Cyprus and Hasder marked EarthDance 2009 in Nicosia with a bi-communal youth festival. The event began with a bi-communal Streetball Basketball Tournament at the Phanaromeni School and ended with an evening concert and music exhibition at Hasder’s Folk Arts Institute near Selimye mosque.

“The game of basketball and music are two very powerful vehicles in terms of bringing people together. EarthDance 2009 will appeal to a wide-range of Cypriot youth,” said Rory O’Neil, Program Director for PeacePlayers Internarional -Cyprus.

The event culminated in a “prayer for peace” at 2:00am when all 300 sites participating in EarthDance linked up simultaneously and played in unison:

"We are one global family
All colors, All races
One world united.
We dance for peace and the healing of our planet Earth
Peace for all nations.
Peace for our communities.
And peace within ourselves.
As we join all dance floors across the world,
let us connect heart to heart.
Through our diversity we recognize Unity.
Through our compassion we recognize Peace.
Our love is the power to transform our world
Let us send it out
NOW..."
(http://www.earthdance.org)

The organizers of EarthDance 2009 wanted to reinforce both the ongoing peace talks between the two communities as well as the on-going effort to empower and educate the youth of Cyprus.

The EarthDance 2009 Festival was part of the ‘Youth Activism Project’ implemented by the Cyprus Network for Youth Development and supported by the USAID-funded UNDP Action for Cooperation and Trust program. Similar multicultural activities will be taking place as part of the project throughout the next two years. The Network consists of 12 Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot organizations working together to support youth development and activism throughout Cyprus.