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For two exciting weeks, dancers from around
the world, along with students and teachers,
company directors and ballet patrons converge
on this southern town to compete for prizes,
study with master teachers, offer company
contracts and enjoy some of the world’s
best dance performances. The USA International
Ballet Competition has become known as a
Festival of Dance.
Founded in 1978 by Thalia
Mara, the first USA International Ballet
Competition took place in 1979 and joined
the ranks of Varna, Bulgaria (1964); Moscow,
Russia (1969); and Tokyo, Japan (1976).
These first competitions were given sanction
by the International Dance Committee of
UNESCO’s International Theater Institute.
Today, international ballet competitions
flourish worldwide, and the USA IBC in Jackson
remains one of the oldest and most respected
competitions in the world. In 1982, the
United States Congress passed a Joint Resolution
designating Jackson as the official home
of the USA International Ballet Competition.
Jackson held subsequent competitions in
1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006.
The USA IBC is a two-week
“olympic style” competition where
tomorrow’s ballet stars vie for gold,
silver and bronze medals, cash awards, scholarships
and jobs. It can be a stepping stone to
a dancer’s career. The audience is
filled with company directors interested
in hiring dancers, and for this reason,
many dancers leave with contracts. This
is possibly the grandest prize of all.
Visitors from around
the world can bask in a city rich in southern
tradition and hospitality. A dedicated group of volunteers provide transportation,
production assistance, medical services,
class monitors, host families, merchandise
sales, ushers, competitor hospitality, interpreters,
information stations, juror’s hospitality,
office assistance, signage, an International
Village for the competitors, “dress-up”
for the city (including the theatre; Belhaven
College, host of the International Village;
and the airport) and planning for parties, parties, parties!
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