All the people have been just great. Southerners...it's just been so much fun .”

-DANNY TIDWELL, 2002 JUNIOR SILVER MEDALIST,
COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET

• The USA IBC in Jackson was the first IBC to provide a “host family” for each competitor, juror, faculty member, pianist and VIP to make their stay as pleasant as possible.
  
  
• The USA IBC in Jackson was the first IBC to allow only one juror per country to ensure fairness.
  
  
• The USA IBC in Jackson was the first IBC to allow competitors to remain at no cost after elimination to continue to attend classes and the competition performances.
  
  
• The USA IBC in Jackson produces an International Dance School that runs in conjunction with the competition. For two weeks, students from around the world (25 states and 4 foreign countries in 2006) study with master teachers during the day and attend IBC performances in the evening.
  
  
• A Teachers’ Workshop provides innovative sessions for teachers and dance professionals.
  
  
• A Competitor Choreography Project gives eliminated competitors an opportunity to hone their skills at choreography and then return to the competition stage to perform their ensemble work during the Awards Gala Ceremony. This performance provides competitors with a unique opportunity to be seen again by company directors.
  
  
• All dancers participating in the USA IBC may request a private evaluation session with one of two dance professionals. Medal winners and eliminated dancers alike find this critique of their performances, which includes the judges’ comments, very beneficial. This is intended to make the Jackson experience the most positive ever for the young artist.
  
  
• The USA IBC can be a stepping stone to a dancer’s career. The audience is filled with company artistic directors interested in hiring dancers, and for this reason, many dancers leave with contracts. This is possibly the grandest prize of all.