THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED 15TH ANNUAL International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) Conference clearly took Washington, D.C. by storm January 16-19, 2003, honoring Black dance pioneers. Katherine Dunham, one of the pioneers honored, is so much more than a legendary choreographer; she is a scholar, and an educator of this creative artist expression called dance. Through her Afro-Caribbean Company, her amazing career helped propel Black culture into the mainstream of American dance. Joan Myers-Brown, another dance legend and founder/artistic director of Philadanco Dance Company, created IABD believing that a gathering of the Black Dance Community would help address all their concerns. In 2003, IABD continues the tradition of dance education set forth by Dunham and Myers-Brown and many others through its 15th Annual Conference.
In addition to the five founding members, Cleo Parker Robinson, Ann Williams, Lula Washington, Jeraldyne Blunden, and Myers-Brown, IABD boasts a membership of such renowned artists as, Donald McKayle, Ronald K. Brown, Donald Byrd, Chuck Davis, Carmen DeLavallade, and Walter Nicks. The very nature of the IABD is defined by its name, an organization committed to documenting dance, presenting dance and performance, and holding global discussion about Black aesthetics in dance.
IABD, unique in its composition, was born in response to the direct need of Myers-Brown, who also knew and understood the needs of other Black Dance professionals. Soon after its creation in 1986, IABD in conjunction with the Philadanco staff held the 1st International Conference of Blacks in Dance in 1988. While the first conference attracted eighty participants, over time, the IABD conference has developed national and international prominence and now attracts upwards of seven hundred participants to each Conference from around the world from Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, South America, and Australia.
"The IABD annual event in honor of Blacks in dance and legendary dancers, is the only one of its kind," says Dr. Sherrill Berryman Johnson, full professor, artistic director of Howard University's Department of Theatre Arts Dance Major Program, artistic/executive Director of Images of Cultural Artistry Inc., and chairperson of the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD). "It is the only service organization in dance for people of color, which is why it is particularly important and timely that our conference theme now focuses on "Timekeepers of the Flame: Passing on the Torch." It is an...opportunity to honor our dance pioneers and legends of African ancestry, during the same week in which we honor Martin Luther King, Jr. by featuring the choreography of emerging and established artists and by presenting performances by the future generation," insists Dr. Johnson.
The celebration of its 15th year is also a celebration that, despite any obstacle, the IABD conference remains a very important forum. IABD offers Blacks in Dance -- artists, dance companies, directors, choreographers and those interested in Black dance -- what may be the only opportunity to discuss issues specific to their art, and to set policies beneficial to the Black dance community. Aside from its star-studded, legendary membership and guests, the gathering featured dance events throughout the week at various locations throughout Washington, DC.
There was the traditional Dance Conversations/Exhibitions and Pre-conference events that included a free symposium Wednesday, January 15, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with master artists Carmen DeLavallade, Donald McKayle, Ann Williams, Cleo Parker Robinson, Eleo Pomare, Baba Walter Nicks, Baba Chuck Davis and established dance artists Ronald K. Brown, Debbie Blunden-Diggs and Lula Washington. A concert featuring historically Black colleges and universities honored Black College Dance Exchange founders Inez Howard (Norfolk State), Nancy Pinckney, (North Carolina Central University), and Dr. Iantha L. Tucker (Morgan State University). On Thursday, January 16, the distinguished participants dialogued on "Building the foundation of dance as an art form of language, aesthetics, and quality." The conference officially began on the afternoon of Thursday, January 16, with special master class workshops. The day culminated with an evening of children in performance at the Duke Ellington Performing and Visual Arts High school as well as a late night performance of artists at Dance Place. On Friday, January 17, the luncheon tribute to the legendary dance scholar and educator, Katherine Dunham and the founder of IABD, Joan Myers Brown, was held. Special invited guests to that affair included noted performers Judith Jamison and Debbie Allen. Friday, January 17 culminated with "Triple Stars at Midnight," an African dance class led by Baba Chuck Davis, Melvin Deal, and Assane Konte. On Saturday, January 18, a special master class with Ms. Dunham continued the focus of passing the information of dance onto the next generation of artists.
The week-long event included a luncheon buffet featuring artists, choreographers, educators, and entrepreneurs in the dance profession; performances by national, international and Washington, DC metropolitan area artists and choreographers at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Dance Place, and Howard University's Ira Aldridge Theatre and Cramton Auditorium.
Symposium sessions at both the Omni Shoreham Hotel and Howard University featured such topics as "Finding A Meeting Ground between Commercial Tradition and Concert Stage Dance" and "Renewing and Re-shaping the IABD and its Role of Service to the Dance Profession and the Community." Lastly, multi-company auditions with Philadanco (Philadelphia), Cleo Parker Robinson (Denver), Dallas Black Dance (Dallas), Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (Dayton) were held Sunday, January 19 at Howard University's Burr Gymnasium enhancing an already spectacular conference with enticing opportunities for dancers aspiring to become a part of the extraordinary dance companies represented.
Photograph (Katherine Dunham)
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