National Dance Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
American Dance Movement states that National Dance Day was established in 2010 and, since 2019, takes place annually on the third Saturday in September.
About National Dance Day
National Dance Day is a U.S. dance-participation observance held on the third Saturday in September.
American Dance Movement says it was established in 2010 by co-founder Nigel Lythgoe and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton.
Why National Dance Day matters
The observance promotes dance as a form of exercise, artistic expression and community participation.
Its annual date changed in 2019, so older references to the last Saturday in July describe the previous recurrence.
History of National Dance Day
National Dance Day was established in 2010.
For its early years the observance was held on the last Saturday in July.
American Dance Movement announced in 2019 that National Dance Day would move to the third Saturday in September, beginning September 21, 2019.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Nigel Lythgoe and U.S. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton
The official National Dance Day site identifies them with the 2010 establishment.
American Dance Movement / original National Dance Day organizers
The organizer-owned history documents establishment and current stewardship.
First documented observance
The official site establishes the 2010 start year; an exact first event date is not asserted here.
Moved National Dance Day from the last Saturday in July to the third Saturday in September, beginning with September 21, 2019.
American Dance Movement · 2019 National Dance Day date-change announcement
American Dance Movement
American Dance Movement maintains National Dance Day programming and date guidance.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
How to Observe National Dance Day
Join a local dance class, community event or official choreography activity.
Try a dance style that is new to you.
Use dance as movement and exercise at an ability-appropriate level.
Learn about the observance’s 2019 move from July to September.
National Dance Day Facts
In the entry for National Dance Day, National Dance Day was established in 2010.
Nigel Lythgoe and Eleanor Holmes Norton are identified by the organizer as its founders.
The current recurrence is the third Saturday in September.
Before 2019 it was associated with the last Saturday in July.
The 2019 change took effect with the September 21, 2019 event.
National Dance Day Messages
Happy National Dance Day—move in whatever way brings you energy and joy.
Celebrating dancers, teachers and communities that make movement accessible to more people.
May National Dance Day inspire a new step, a favorite routine or simply a little more movement.
Wishing everyone a National Dance Day full of rhythm, creativity and movement.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
American Dance Movement — new September recurrence (opens in a new tab)
Original Organizer
National Dance Day — official site (opens in a new tab)
Original Organizer
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Dance Day?
Third Saturday in September (19 September in 2026) The documented recurrence rule is: Third Saturday in September.
Does National Dance Day fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is National Dance Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States / American Dance Movement annual dance-participation observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes National Dance Day?
The reviewed sources identify American Dance Movement / original National Dance Day organizers as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Nigel Lythgoe and U.S. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as American Dance Movement.
Is National Dance Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: United States / American Dance Movement annual dance-participation observance.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-09.
When is National Dance Day?
It is currently observed on the third Saturday in September.
Who established National Dance Day?
American Dance Movement credits co-founder Nigel Lythgoe and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton with establishing it in 2010.
Was National Dance Day previously in July?
Yes. American Dance Movement announced a 2019 change from the last Saturday in July to the third Saturday in September.
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