We propose in this contribution to investigate the link between the dynamic gradient damage model and the classical Griffith's theory of dynamic fracture during the crack propagation phase. To achieve this main objective, we first rigorously reformulate two-dimensional linear elastic dynamic fracture problems using variational methods and shape derivative techniques. The classical equation of motion governing a smoothly propagating crack tip follows by considering variations of a space-time action integral. We then give a variationally consistent framework of the dynamic gradient damage model. Owing to the analogies between the variational ingredients of these two models and under some basic assumptions concerning the damage band structuration, one obtains a generalized Griffith criterion which governs the crack tip evolution within the non-local damage model. Assuming further that the internal length is small compared to the dimension of the body, the previous criterion leads to the classical Griffith's law through a separation of scales between the outer linear elastic domain and the inner damage process zone.