On July 10, 2004, the USA International Ballet Competition will celebrate a quarter-century of bringing the passion and power of dance to Jackson with the 25th Anniversary Reunion Gala. In honor of the occasion, a group of USA IBC medal-winners will gather in Jackson to present a kinetic performance of classical and contemporary ballet. Competition officials are also planning an elegant post-performance gala party at Jackson’s Capital Club to mark the organization’s long and colorful history.

"We wanted to do something very special to commemorate our 25th anniversary," said Sue Lobrano, executive director of the USA IBC. "Featuring our alumni medalists, many of whom began their professional careers on the USA IBC stage, is a particularly fitting way to honor the history of the competition and all of the artists who have made it such a wonderful event."

The USA IBC was founded in 1979 by the late Thalia Mara, a local arts patron and former ballerina. Held once every four years, the two-week olympic-style competition offers medals, cash awards and scholarships to talented dancers from all over the world. Highly regarded as one of the most prestigious dance events worldwide, the USA IBC is sanctioned by UNESCO and was designated as the nation’s official international ballet competition by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1982. The next USA IBC will be held in June 17 - July 2, 2006 in Jackson, Mississippi.

Although the program is subject to change, dancers scheduled to appear at the 25th Anniversary Reunion Gala include Wu Haiyan (2002 Senior Gold Medalist), Joseph Phillips (2002 Junior Gold Medalist), Rasta Thomas (1998 Senior Gold Medalist) and Simon Ball (1994, Junior Gold Medalist). Kathy Thibodeaux (1982 Senior Silver Medalist) and local ballet company Ballet Magnificat! will also perform at the event. Additionally, program planners recently added another piece to the evening’s performance. Caught, a piece originally choreographed and performed by David Parsons, melds dance with innovative lighting techniques to create striking effects. The piece will close the evening’s program.

"A program featuring such an impressive group of dancers is a highly unique event, not just in Mississippi, but nationwide," said William Mounger, chairman of the board at the USA IBC. "We are so proud to present artists of this caliber to the Jackson audience, and we are even more gratified that our competition helped them launch very successful careers."

Tickets to the performance, which begins at 7:30 p.m. at Thalia Mara Hall, range from $15-$50, and tickets to the post-performance gala party are $35. Tickets to both events are on sale now and can be purchased via phone by calling the Thalia Mara Hall box office at 601-960-1535.

For a complete list of performers, click here.

Photos on this page © Hubert Worley, © Christopher Jean-Richard