Big news for Colorado dance fans: Denver’s own is hosting the 28th annual International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference and Festival.
The event — actually a series of them — will be staged Wednesday through Jan. 24. Venues include the Paramount Theatre and the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
The IABD showcase is not just an opportunity to see such esteemed longtime companies such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Philadanco and Kankouran West African Dance Company. Emerging artists from outfits such as Baltimore Dance Tech and the Duke Ellington Performing Arts School will also perform.
“It’s an experience any young dancer will never forget,” says Rhetta Shead, who is with . “Every night the house is just rocking.”
This is the fourth time that Robinson’s company has hosted the dance conclave. It was one of the five founding groups. The other four are Philadanco, which is from Philadelphia; Dallas Black Dance Theatre; Lula Washington Dance Theatre in Los Angeles; and Dayton Contemporary Dance in Ohio.
The IABD is always a chance for young dancers to audition for scholarships, summer workshops and even professional posts with established companies.
But this year, representatives from these outfits — essentially talent scouts akin to what you find in the sports world — will be auditioning rising artists, most of them teens, for slots in classical ballet. In the past, modern dance has been the emphasis.
“Every time we host, we try and do something unique and different,” Shead says. “This year, it’s the ballet auditions.”
The festival, open to the public, is capped by the Founders’ Performance Presentation.
A variety of tickets and ticket packages are available. The lineup includes:
Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre:
Performers from schools such as Baltimore Dance Tech, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Youth Ensemble, Duke Ellington Performing Arts School, Dallas Black Dance Theatre Allegro and West Las Vegas Arts Center. Tickets are available at .
Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House:
Works by Bangarra Dance Theatre, Atlanta Dance Connection, Cleo II, Dallas Black Dance Theatre II, Howard University, University of Nevada Las Vegas and Virginia Commonwealth. Tickets are available at .
Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House:
The 28th IABD Performance Series Finale featuring the founders and internationally renowned companies, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dayton Contemporary Dance, Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, Forces of Nature, Lula Washington Dance Theatre, Kankouran West African Dance Company, Philadanco and Robert Moses’ Kin. Tickets are available at .
