international association of blacks in dance Archives

Guillaume Diop, a Black ballet dancer in his early 20s, is captured at the height of a cabriole back. His chin is raised to follow the line of his front arm, in position for first arabesque. He is in costume for Giselle, wearing grey tights and ballet slippers with a dark tunic that has white ruffles at the shoulders and elbows. In the background, a corps of Wilis, dressed in white, pose in B-plus, looking away with their wrists crossed before them.

News of Note: What You Might Have Missed in March 2023

Here are the latest promotions, appointments and departures, as well as notable awards and accomplishments, from March 2023.

Courtney Escoyne March 31st, 2023

Clusters of dancers appears on a stage awash in red, their faces falling into shadow. A trio at the center stands leaning into one hip, while encircling them are other dancers on one knee, facing front, their arms curving up from their shoulders.

Watch President Biden Present the National Medal of Arts to the International Association of Blacks in Dance

The International Association of Blacks in Dance is being honored with the United States government’s highest arts award.

Chava Pearl Lansky March 21st, 2023

News of Note: What You Might Have Missed in May and June 2020

Here are the latest promotions and appointments, plus notable awards and accomplishments from the last two months. Comings & Goings Ma Cong has been named associate artistic director at Richmond Ballet. He will serve in an adjunct capacity before joining full-time in 2022. New Zealand Dance Company has appointed Victoria Colombus and James O’Hara co-artistic […]

Courtney Escoyne July 1st, 2020

Race Across America: An Audition Tour Showed Me What Ballet Could Learn from the Art World

My January is always busy. Weekdays are filled with rehearsals in Seattle and weekends are spent traversing the country auditioning students for our summer intensive. I direct Pacific Northwest Ballet School and I see these auditions as essential investments in future talent for both our school and company. I do them myself to let students […]

Peter Boal March 27th, 2019

Should We Be Having Auditions Specifically for Dancers of Color?

Since they were first offered in 2016, the International Association of Blacks in Dance‘s ballet auditions for dancers of color have sparked much debate within the dance community. Some believe these auditions create valuable opportunities for dancers of color while others disagree, even going so far as calling them slightly racist. Still, there’s no debating […]

Shaté L. Hayes March 7th, 2019

Why IABD, DTH and Dance/USA Teamed Up for The Equity Project

A newly launched initiative hopes to change the face of ballet, both onstage and behind the scenes. Called “The Equity Project: Increasing the Presence of Blacks in Ballet,” the three-year initiative, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, is a partnership between Dance Theatre of Harlem, the International Association of Blacks in Dance and Dance/USA. […]

Karyn D. Collins January 17th, 2019

These 21 Organizations Are Banding Together to Increase the Presence of Black Dancers in Ballet

Twenty-one ballet organizations have come together to support the advancement of racial equity in professional ballet. They’re all part of The Equity Project: Increasing the Presence of Blacks in Ballet, a new effort being led by Dance Theatre of Harlem, The International Association of Blacks in Dance and Dance/USA. Continuing What Arthur Mitchell Started While […]

Madeline Schrock October 4th, 2018

Inside IABD's Audition for Women of Color

When we first announced in December that the International Association of Blacks in Dance was hosting its inaugural ballet audition for women of color, the reactions were mixed. Readers took to social media and beyond to dialogue with the dance community. Some praised IABD’s initiative. Others concluded that, unfortunately, auditions of this kind were necessary […]

Madeline Schrock March 15th, 2016