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The International Association of Blacks in Dance

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The International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) is a non-profit organization that presents, preserves, and promotes dance by people of African-American and/or African ancestry or origin. IABD hosts an annual conference that attracts dancers, choreographers, dance scholars, dance studio owners, agents and managers, grantmakers, dance merchandise retailers, and other dance supporters from all across the world. Since its inception, IABD has received significant support from the Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, and MacKenzie Scott. The 3,500-member organization is the recipient of the 2021 National Medal of Arts.

History

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Originally conceived in 1988,[1] the organization got its start when Joan Myers Brown hosted an "International Conference on Black Dance Companies" in Philadelphia.[1][2][3][4] The conference was the direct result of a five thousand dollar grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts[5] and additional support from the City of Philadelphia, Coalition of African American Cultural Organizations, Entertainment Business Services, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and University of the Arts.[6]

Attendees of the first IABD conference included: Jeraldyne Blunden, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Dayton, OH; Joan Myers Brown, PHILADANCO! The Philadelphia Dance Company, Philadelphia, PA; Denise Jefferson, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York, NY; Louis Johnson; Cleo Parker Robinson, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Denver, CO; Lula Washington, Lula Washington Dance Theatre, Los Angeles, CA; and Ann Williams, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dallas, TX.[5][6]

Since that first conference, the IABD annual conference has grown to a multi-day event that attracts hundreds of professional dancers, choreographers, dance scholars, entertainment agents and managers, dance company administrators and volunteers, grantmakers, dance studio owners, academic researchers, dance merchandisers, dance students, and dance supporters.[4][7]

In addition to the annual conference, IABD operates as an intermediary grantmaker, making gifts to Black dance companies;[7] provides a forum for scholarly discussions and publications that center on dance, Blacks in dance, and other dance topics;[7] hosts dance combine auditions for multiple dance companies;[6] offers regular workshops, training, special events, and other programs for IABD members and the general public[7] with the overall organizational goal to enrich the dance culture of America.[8]

In 1993, Bonnie Bing was appointed as IABD's first executive director with responsibility of day-to-day operations.[6]

At its 1996 annual conference, IABD became the first organization in the United States to hold an open combine audition for dancers where they could perform for a variety of artistic directors and choreographers from different dance companies.[6]

In 1999, Sherrill Berryman Johnson (1947–2010),[9] a dance professor at Howard University, was named IABD's second executive director, and moved the organization's administrative offices to a building on Howard's campus.[6]

In 2000, IABD was recognized with a special citation “Bessie Award” for its service to the field of dance.[10][11]

In 2011, IABD was incorporated as a nonprofit organization.[4]

In 2017, Denise Saunders Thompson was promoted to IABD's first president and chief executive officer.[4][12] She had previously served as IABD's third executive director from 2010 to 2017,[6] and would serve as IABD president until 2023.[13]

Beginning in 2017, IABD, in collaboration with the Nonprofit Finance Fund,[14] developed the Comprehensive Organization Health Initiative (COHI | MOVE) to provide financial, technical, and wellness support to thirty dance organizations.[15] The COHI|MOVE program was expanded by the launch of IABD's “Building Up: Integrated Learning and Development (BUILD)” program and now offers resources to an additional twenty-five dance companies.[15]

In 2020, IABD published “The Black Report,” an analysis and assessment of several Black dance companies in the United States.[16]

In 2023, IABD received the 2021 National Medal of Arts from President Joseph Biden.[8][17]

In 2024, IABD counts nearly 3,500 members located across the world.[1][4] The organizations operates on $1.75 million annual budget, and is managed by co-executive directors Omar Ingram and Natasha R. Moreland-Spears.[4]

Funders

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The Mellon Foundation has donated more than eleven million dollars to IABD. In 2024, the Mellon Foundation awarded IABD a three-year, six million dollar grant to create a regranting program for Black dance artists and arts organizations.[18] In 2021, the Mellon Foundation provided a $3,138,500 grant for second round funding of IABD's organizational health initiative;[15][19] in 2018, IABD received first round funding of $2,636,000 from the Mellon Foundation.[20] In 2017, the Mellon Foundation's five hundred thousand dollar grant helped to establish and develop IABD's operational infrastructure and to conduct an organizational health study of the Black Dance sector and some of the leading Black dance companies.[4]

In 2021, IABD received three million dollars from MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett as part of their commitment to arts and cultural institutions that have been historically underfunded and under-recognized.[21]

In addition, IABD has received support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation,[12][22] Ford Foundation,[23][24] Howard Gilman Foundation,[4] Harkness Foundation for Dance,[25] the National Endowment for the Arts, and others.[4]

Annual Conference

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IABD's annual conference is the organization's signature event, and through the years, dance legends Carmen de Lavallade, Katherine Dunham, Donald McKayle, Eleo Pomare,[5] Alvin Ailey (posthmously) and Arthur Mitchell,[26] Debbie Allen, Janet Collins, George Faison, Gregory Hines, Maurice Hines, Judith Jamison, Paula Kelly, The Nicholas Brothers, Jaime Rogers, and Lester Wilson have been honored at the event.[27] As well, the IABD conference provides a launchpad for emerging Black dance artists.[5] Camille A. Brown, Rennie Harris, Christopher Huggins and others have credited the IABD with advancing their careers.[5]

Conference Timeline

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Iteration (Year) Conference Theme Host Company Host City
34th (2024) Can't Turn You Loose: A Love Letter to Black Dance The International Association of Blacks in Dance in partnership with Collage Dance Collective Memphis, TN[4]
33rd (2023) Globally Connected: What Does Our Tomorrow Hold? The International Association of Blacks in Dance in partnership with dance Immersion Toronto, Canada[28]
32nd (2020) THEN NOW NEXT The International Association of Blacks in Dance in partnership with Philadanco! Philadelphia, PA[29]
31st (2019) Etched In Stone: Resilient Through Time The International Association of Blacks in Dance in partnership with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company Dayton, OH[30]
30th (2018) Lula Washington Dance Theatre Los Angeles, CA[31]
29th (2017) Dallas Black Dance Theater Dallas, TX[32]
28th (2016) Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Denver, CO[33]
27th (2015) One Tree, Many Branches Cleveland Dance Movement Cleveland, OH[34]
26th (2014) Dallas Black Dance Theater Dallas, TX[33]
25th (2013) Baltimore Dance Tech, DC Youth Ensemble, Howard University, Images of Cultural Artistry Washington, DC[35]
24th (2012) dance Immersion Toronto, Canada[36]
23rd (2011) Lula Washington Dance Theatre Los Angeles, CA[33]
22nd (2010) Back to Basics: Strengthening our Institutions for a New Generation Philadanco! Philadelphia, PA[5]
21st (2009) Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Denver, CO[33]
20th (2008) Dallas Black Dance Theater Dallas, TX[33]
19th (2007) dance Immersion Toronto, Canada[33]
18th (2006) Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, A Dance Company New York, NY[33]
17th (2005) Lula Washington Dance Theatre Los Angeles, CA[33]
16th (2004) Images of Cultural Artistry, Howard University Washington, DC[33]
15th (2003) Images of Cultural Artistry, Howard University Washington, DC[12]
-- (2002) Bare Bones Meeting: Getting Down to the Nitty Gritty Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, A Dance Company Brooklyn, NY[37]
14th (2001) Foster King Dance Collective San Diego, CA[38]
13th (2000) Dallas Black Dance Theater Dallas, TX[33]
12th (1999) Cleo Parker Robi nson Dance Denver, CO[33]
11th (1998)  African American Dance Ensemble Durham, NC[33]
10th (1997) Dallas Black Dance Theater Dallas, TX[33]
9th (1996) Dayton Contemporary Dance Company Dayton, OH[39]
8th (1995) Philadanco! The Philadelphia Dance Company Philadelphia, PA[33]
7th (1994) DC Youth Ensemble Washington, DC[33]
6th (1993) Dallas Black Dance Theater Dallas, TX[33]
5th (1992) Lula Washington Dance Theatre Los Angeles, CA[26]
4th (1991) Dayton Contemporary Dance Company Dayton, OH[26]
3rd (1990) Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Denver, CO[26]
2nd (1989) Philadanco! The Philadelphia Dance Company Philadelphia, PA[33]
1st (1988) Inaugural Session Philadanco! The Philadelphia Dance Company Philadelphia, PA[33][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Lansky, Chava Pearl (March 21, 2023). "Watch President Biden Present the National Medal of Arts to the International Association of Blacks in Dance". Dance Magazine.
  2. ^ Warren, Charmaine Patricia (September 2, 2021). "Moving Over: A Powerhouse of Black Dance Is Retiring (Mostly)". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Forbes Profile: Joan Myers Brown. Founder, International Association Of Blacks In Dance. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/profile/joan-myers-brown/
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Hidden Gems: Meet The International Association of Blacks in Dance. Voyager Memphis. April 2, 2024. https://memphisvoyager.com/interview/hidden-gems-meet-the-international-association-of-blacks-in-dance-of-the-international-association-of-blacks-in-dance/
  5. ^ a b c d e f Warren, Charmaine Patricia (December 20, 2009). "Finding The Power". Dance Magazine.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Our History. International Association of Blacks in Dance. https://www.iabdassociation.org/page/History
  7. ^ a b c d The International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD). Washington, DC. Idealist. https://www.idealist.org/en/consultant/cf31c27cff3e4ad89eafea3426af16a0-the-international-association-of-blacks-in-dance-iabd-washington
  8. ^ a b "The International Association of Blacks in Dance Association. 2021 National Medal of Arts Recipient". National Endowment for the Arts.
  9. ^ Staff, MSRC, "Berryman-Johnson, Sherrill" (2020). Manuscript Division Finding Aids. 274. https://dh.howard.edu/finaid_manu/274
  10. ^ The Bessies. Special Achievement/Citations: International Association of Blacks in Dance For Service to the Field. 2000. https://bessies.org/archive/
  11. ^ Anderson, Jack. Bessies, Performance Awards, Honor Innovative Efforts. New York Times. Sept. 18, 2000. https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/18/arts/bessies-performance-awards-honor-innovative-efforts.html
  12. ^ a b c Traiger, Lisa (May 7, 2019). "Working for the Next Generation. Leadership Corner: Denise Saunders Thompson, President and CEO, International Association of Blacks in Dance". Dance USA.
  13. ^ Biography. Denise Saunders Thompson. Howard University. https://profiles.howard.edu/denise-saunders-thompson
  14. ^ Nonprofit Finance Fund. https://nff.org
  15. ^ a b c (ENSPIRE Interviews) The International Association of Blacks in Dance Receives Grants to Develop COHI | MOVE Further. ENSPIRE. July 13, 2021. https://enspiremag.com/2021/07/the-international-association-of-blacks-in-dance-receives-new-grants/
  16. ^ Slayton, Jeff. The International Association of Blacks in Dance Announces the Release of The Black Report. LA Dance Chronicle. July 21, 2020. https://www.ladancechronicle.com/the-international-association-of-blacks-in-dance-announces-the-release-of-the-black-report/
  17. ^ "President Biden to Award National Medals of Arts". National Endowment for the Arts. March 20, 2023.
  18. ^ Comprehensive Organizational Health Initiative Legacy to support a regranting program to artists and companies driving the future of Black dance. Amount: $6,000,000. Date of award: June 06, 2024. Length: 36 months. Mellon Foundation. https://www.mellon.org/grant-details/comprehensive-organizational-health-initiative-legacy-20455980
  19. ^ Comprehensive Organizational Health Initiative to support a second cohort through the Foundation's Comprehensive Organizational Health Initiative. Mellon Foundation. https://www.mellon.org/grant-details/comprehensive-organizational-health-initiative-20447756
  20. ^ Comprehensive Organizational Health Initiative to support Phase 2 of the Foundation's Comprehensive Organizational Health Initiative. Mellon Foundation. https://www.mellon.org/grant-details/comprehensive-organizational-health-initiative-20444515
  21. ^ The International Association of Blacks in Dance Announces $3 Million Dollar Gift from MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett. Dance NYC. June 18, 2021. https://www.dance.nyc/for-audiences/community-calendar/view/The-International-Association-of-Blacks-in-Dance-Announces-3-Million-Dollar-Gift-from-MacKenzie-Scott-and-Dan-Jewett/2021-06-18
  22. ^ Press Release. Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Awards NAS and IABD funding for Learning Magnet. National Arts Strategies, Inc. https://www.artstrategies.org/press-clippings/doris-duke-charitable-foundation-awards-national-arts-strategies-international-association-blacks-dance-funding-learning-magnet/
  23. ^ "General support to preserve and promote dance by people of African ancestry or origin, and core support for regranting. Grant approval: $1,400,000". Ford Foundation. March 2021.
  24. ^ "General support to preserve and promote dance by people of African ancestry or origin. Grant approval: $375,000". Ford Foundation. August 2024.
  25. ^ "Our Grantees. 2023 Support". Harkness Foundation for Dance.
  26. ^ a b c d Shugold, Marc (January 31, 1990). Black Dancers Stress Unity, but Ominous Note Is Sounded : Dance: A veteran choreographer warns delegates at a Denver conference that they are ‘facing extinction.’ Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-01-31-ca-1050-story.html
  27. ^ Conference and Festival | Honorees. International Association of Blacks in Dance. https://www.iabdassociation.org/page/confest-honorees
  28. ^ Ingenthron, Blair (October 8, 2022). "IABD in Partnership with Dance Immersion to Present GLOBALLY CONNECTED Conference and Festival in January". Broadway World.
  29. ^ Jefferson, Vena. The International Association of Blacks in Dance and PHILADANCO present THEN NOW NEXT. Broad Street Review. Jan 14, 2020. https://www.broadstreetreview.com/articles/the-international-association-of-blacks-in-dance-and-philadanco-present-the#:~:text=THEN%20NOW%20NEXT%2C%20the%2032nd,iabdassocation.org.
  30. ^ Kyle, Elizabeth (Apr 2, 2019). "Attendees still 'buzzing' following Dayton's international dance conference". Dayton Business Journal.
  31. ^ DCA’S 10 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS TO THE 2018 IABD. "The Department of Cultural Affairs Los Angeles recently announced their list of 10 scholarship winners to the 2018 International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) Conference and Festival, hosted by Lula Washington Dance Theater in Los Angeles." UCLA School of Architecture. https://www.arts.ucla.edu/single/dcas-10-scholarship-winners-to-the-2018-iabd/
  32. ^ Event flyer. IABD 2017. January 25-29. Dallas, Texas. Dallas Black Dance Theatre. https://dbdt.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/DBDT_IABD2017_Flyer_e.pdf?15d844
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Conference and Festival: History and Timeline". International Association of Blacks in Dance.
  34. ^ Lewis, Zachary (Jan. 14, 2015). Cleveland gears up to host Int'l Association of Blacks in Dance conference and festival. Cleveland Plain Dealer.
  35. ^ Press Release. INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACKS IN DANCE CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES 25TH SILVER ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION JANUARY 24 – 27, 2013 IN WASHINGTON, DC. International Association of Blacks in Dance.
  36. ^ Fuller, Sally Henry (January 6, 2012). dance Immersion Presents Dance Conference and Festival 1/26-29. Broadway World.
  37. ^ Dunning, Jennifer. DANCE; A Support System For Blacks in Dance. New York Times. Jan. 13, 2002. https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/13/arts/dance-a-support-system-for-blacks-in-dance.html
  38. ^ "Sandra Foster King. Biography. Theatre + Dance". UC San Diego.
  39. ^ "IABD 9th Annual Conference - Part 1, 1996, Box: 20, Folder: 8. Jeraldyne Blunden Collection, MS-337. Special Collections". Retrieved October 24, 2024.
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