April 26, 2006

From June 17 through July 2, 2006, Thalia Mara Hall will be home to the eighth USA IBC, a competition where tomorrow’s brightest young dance stars from throughout the globe compete for scholarships, company contracts, medals and monetary awards. In tribute to the African-American influence on one of the world’s oldest art forms, the USA IBC is offering two events during the competition that celebrate the contributions of African-American dance artists. In addition, the competition is working with community partners to make competition events accessible to all audiences.

Garth Fagan Dance, a critically-acclaimed dance troupe based in Rochester, New York, fuses the sense of weight in modern dance, the torso-centered movement and energy of Afro-Caribbean, the speed and precision of ballet and the rule-breaking experimentation of the post-moderns. Fagan, the choreographer of Disney’s Broadway show “The Lion King,” founded the company in 1970 and continues to serve as its artistic director. On June 21, the company will conduct a master class for advanced and professional dancers and a free lecture/demonstration, which is open to the public. These activities will culminate in an evening performance to be held at 8 p.m. on June 22 in Jackson’s Thalia Mara Hall. In order to make the performance accessible to all community members, tickets will be priced at only $5.

“Garth Fagan is one of the most respected modern dance artists in the country, and his work is well-known both on Broadway and in the dance industry,” said Sue Lobrano, executive director of the USA IBC. “We are excited to introduce this talented artist and his company to Jackson audiences, and we are grateful that generous local sponsors have allowed us to price the tickets so attractively.”

Sponsors of the residency include the Southern Arts Federation, the Greater Jackson Arts Council and Dermatopathology Associates.

Also during the competition, the USA IBC will work with two community partners to present Classic Black, a collection of oral histories and photographs telling the story of black ballet dancers in America. The exhibit, offered for tour by the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, will be on display in Jackson’s Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center from June 1 to July 31.

“I viewed this exhibit not knowing a lot about the contributions of African-American ballet dancers,” said Gregory Jones, curator at the Smith Robertson Museum. “When I saw the materials, I was blown away. There is so much information there; most people would assume that dancers faced a lot of discrimination in the South, but they faced hardships in the North and on the East Coast as well.”

The exhibit will be open during regular museum hours: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $4.50 for adults. The exhibit is sponsored by the City of Jackson.

“I believe that this exhibit will allow the community to learn more about this craft,” Jones added. “I hope the community embraces it.”

In addition to presenting Garth Fagan Dance and Classic Black, the USA IBC will host its International Dance School at Jackson State University, a historically black university with a rich history dating back to 1877. Since 1979, JSU has been a valued resource to the mission of the USA IBC, serving as a site for the International Dance School and other competition events. This year, JSU is providing new space in the form of the Walter Payton Wellness Center, which opened in February of 2006. The facility houses state-of-the-art exercise equipment, dance studios and nutrition resources for university students. This summer, it will host almost 300 dance school students from all over the world for a two-week dance intensive.

“As the city’s only university, we strive to be a part of the community in any way we can, and the university has always felt a deep commitment to assisting the USA IBC,” said Evola Bates, chief of staff and JSU representative to the USA IBC board. “We believe the competition is good for the city, and what’s good for the city is good for Jackson State University.”

For ticket information, contact the USA IBC box office at 601-973-9249, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. To inquire about Classic Black, call the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center at 601-960-1457. For additional information on the USA IBC, the dance school and the teacher workshops, please visit www.usaibc.com or contact USA IBC offices at 601-355-9853.