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As Lawrence Jackson, a George Mason University School of Dance professor, watched four of his students performing on stage at the annual International Conference and Festival of Blacks in Dance, he said, “It was a moment of validation.”
“The performance illustrated the effectiveness of Mason’s dance program and our commitment to fostering, nurturing, and showcasing talent from the next generation of dance artists,” he said.
The conference was hosted Jan. 24-28 in Memphis, Tenn., by the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD). The association and its conferences serve as vital platforms for promoting excellence, fostering collaboration, and advancing the visibility of Black dance within the broader dance community and society.
The association holds significant importance as a prominent organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the contributions of Black dance artists and professionals. Mason students who participated include first-year to senior Dance majors.
“This is the first time that Mason’s School of Dance has ever gone to an IABD conference, so I’m really grateful and excited to be a part of that,” said sophomore dance major Sanaa Fairley.
Their performance, which was part of the Youth and College Artists Performance “Love for the Rhythm,” was choreographed by senior Brianna Dawkins.
“It was extremely important for me because it was my first time representing myself as a professional choreographer,” said Dawkins, who is an arts management minor.
The conference gave students opportunities to showcase their skills and network with current professionals in their field.
After their performance, the Mason students received invitations to audition for different dance companies, said Dawkins. “That was really amazing because we all walked out of the theater with these new opportunities,” Dawkins said.
“There are so many valuable experiences like classes and panels held by masters in their field,” said Fairley. For example, the students all took a West African dance class that was offered to attendees. “That [class] was really grounding and allowed me as an artist to see what inspiration I could pull from other people and cultures.”
“We really tried to soak up as much knowledge as we could, especially as younger dancers learning from our older peers and making those connections.”
The students compared the conference atmosphere to a family reunion.
“I saw people that I've danced with in previous summer intensives and reconnected with teachers that I've trained with. I also met directors of companies which is important for potential future jobs,” said Dawkins.
This performance was freshman Jaelyn Perkins’ first at an IABD conference as a college student.
“It was amazing to be able to share that space with so many Black artists and having that sense of community. There are endless accessible opportunities for Black dancers at this conference,” said Perkins.
Mason's dance program contributes to these experiences by consistently facilitating connections between students and professionals in the industry, said Jackson. Throughout the academic year, students are routinely exposed to opportunities within the field, such as networking events and internships.
“Through my experiences here at Mason, there are so many professional opportunities like this conference. I felt so empowered being around so many successful Black dancers,” said sophomore dance major T’aja Williams. “It was a constant reminder of what my capability can look like and the possibility of being successful.”
Overall, the trip was a huge success, Jackson said.
“I would love to make it an annual or biennial trip. The School of Dance maintains a commitment to providing enriching experiences that align with the educational mission of the dance program and I think attendance at IABD helps facilitate that commitment,” he said.