The USA IBC in Jackson, Mississippi, is, without a doubt, one of the best-organized ballet competitions in the entire world."

-DANCING TIMES

• Sanctioned and presented under the auspices of the International Theatre Institute of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); 1980. The USA IBC continues to hold this important distinction.
  
  
• Designated by a Joint Resolution of the United States Congress as the “official” U.S. Competition; 1982.
  
  
• Sanctioned by the Conseil International de la Danse of UNESCO; 1982. The USA IBC continues to hold this important distinction.
  
  
• Received Governor’s Award for “Arts Partnership” with Mississippi Educational Television and MTEL; 1993.
  
  
• Received “Regional Designation Award in the Arts” from the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games - Cultural Olympiad; 1994.
  
  
• Selected as “Event of the Year” by the ArtsAlliance of Jackson/Hinds County; 1994.
  
  
• Received SUMITT Award as “Event of the Year” by the Metro Jackson Visitor Industry Council; 1999 and 2003.
  
  
• Received Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts; 2003.
  
  
• Selected as one of the “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society; 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006.
  
  
• Selected as one of the “Top 100 Events in North America” by the American Bus Association; 1998 and 2002.

The city of Jackson and the state of Mississippi have long recognized the USA IBC as a valuable marketing tool. To further their support through grants and in-kind services, the USA IBC provides an economic impact report to show the importance of the event to the city and state through its positive-image and economic impact. Prepared by the Institutions of Higher Learning, Policy, Research and Analysis, the report showed that the 2006 two-week event generated $7.5 million for the state of Mississippi, a 21 percent increase over the 2002 competition .