A new event in Pittsburgh promises to “honor the legacy of Black dance while exploring its transformative power to connect communities and spark dialogue.”
Pittsburgh will soon host the 35th annual International Conference and Festival of Blacks in Dance, gathering dance professionals, choreographers, scholars, and audiences. Organized by the International Association of Blacks in Dance, in partnership with Hill Dance Academy Theatre, the conference takes place from Wed., Jan. 22-Sun., Jan. 26 at The Westin Pittsburgh.
The conference will showcase the breadth of Black dance traditions, from modern and ballet to African diasporic styles, and highlight its intergenerational nature, with performers ranging from emerging youth to elders. This year’s conference amplifies IABD’s mission and showcases Pittsburgh’s contributions to the art form on an international stage with performances, workshops, auditions, and community classes designed to celebrate and expand the reach of Black dance.
Omar Ingram, co-executive director of IABD, highlights the importance of building partnerships in cities with robust arts and culture scenes. For IABD, the decision to bring the conference to Pittsburgh was a natural evolution of its mission.
“We looked at cities that had memberships that we had not been to, and through our partnership with [Ayisha Morgan-Lee, founder and CEO of HDAT and a longstanding supporter of IABD], we recognized the significance of this Pittsburgh’s cultural legacy,” he explains.
That HDAT is celebrating its 20th anniversary provided an additional milestone, making Pittsburgh a fitting location to celebrate Black dance and its contributions to the arts. The city inspired this year’s theme, The Bridges We Build: From Revolution to Legacy.
As Ingram notes, “Pittsburgh is known for bridges. Bridges connect land masses. We’re using this theme to talk about how Black dance connects people.”
Black dance, in its many forms, has long been utilized for storytelling, resistance, and cultural preservation. Yet, as Ingram points out, “Dance and the arts are a vehicle for conversation. All great art has a political point of view.”
While luminaries like Alvin Ailey and Katherine Dunham have cemented Black dance in the cultural consciousness, IABD aims to broaden this legacy, introducing audiences to lesser-known yet equally impactful contributors to the field. The conference serves as both a celebration and a call to action, inviting participants to engage deeply with the history and future of Black dance.
The event also serves to elevate Pittsburgh’s local dance community. The opening performance will feature regional artists and companies, and community classes, hosted in partnership with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Point Park Conservatory, invite attendees of all skill levels to engage directly with the art form.
“In every city we visit, it’s key to include the people and institutions that make up the local arts scene,” says Ingram. “That’s how we build bridges that last.”
For Hill Dance Academy Theatre, the conference continues its two-decade-long mission to educate and empower young dancers through Black dance traditions. In 2021, HDAT opened its Forever Home for Black Dance in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District, a 29,000-square-foot campus dedicated to sustaining the legacy of Black dance.
At its core, the conference seeks to provide more than performances and classes. Ingram describes the event as a “call-in” for everyone to come together, celebrate, and leave inspired.
“The beauty of Black dance and Black art forces a catharsis,” he says. “We want people to walk away feeling welcomed, celebrated, and restored.”
International Conference and Festival of Blacks in Dance. Wed., Jan. 22-Sun., Jan. 26. The Westin Pittsburgh. 1000 Penn Ave., Downtown. Registration required. iabdassociation.org
This article appears in Jan 15-21, 2025.
