International Christian Dance Fellowship Global Conference, 'River of Life', Christchurch, April 2025

ICDF global conferences take place every three years hosted by different member countries. This will be the first time of hosting for Aotearoa NZ or the Pacific. ICDF is a very small organisation led by volunteers, mostly women. Access to financial resources, nationally or internationally, are limited.

We are aiming to bring to NZ several internationally-known teachers and performers. All currently teach and perform in academic or community arts contexts. The teachers we are currently hoping to assist are from UK, France, South Africa, Brazil, USA and Australia. The last three gatherings were held in Ghana (2016), India (2019) and Sweden (2022). Several New Zealanders have attended a number of previous global gatherings and found them exciting, stimulating and inspiring opportunities to worship, dance, network, share ideas and form lasting friendships with others in our areas of the Christian Arts.

NZ’s geographical isolation, means that our enthusiastic and committed, but cash-poor, international teachers require financial assistance - travel to NZ, accommodation and general living expenses. They will be participating in the activities of the conference, as well as sharing their expertise with the delegates in daily electives. The delegates will also be coming from around the world, as well as from NZ, Australia and the Pacific.

The national leadership team of ICDFANZ will be assisted by colleagues from Australia in the myriad planning and running tasks of this conference.