XII USA International Ballet Competition
99 of the most talented dancers traveled from across the globe to #DANCEJACKSON. Dancers competed in Classical and Contemporary Rounds of competition and trained in daily competitor classes and studio rehearsals. After three intense rounds of competition, the international jury selected the medalists and award winners.
Additional events were available at the USA IBC such as the International Dance School, Arts & Lecture Series, Teacher Training Program, and more! Read below to learn about the 12th USA International Ballet Competition!
Round 1 –
Classical
99 competitors representing 17 nations arrived in Jackson, MS to compete for their opportunity to win medals, cash prizes, and company contracts. Dancers performed works from the official repertoire list and were judged based on four elements; artistry, musicality, physicality, and technical skill.
Round 2 – Contemporary
50 competitors advanced to the semi-finals. In this round, competitors performed a work created since 2010, between 2-5 minutes, showcasing abilities not seen in their classical works. The audience was dazzled by the ingenuity and creativity of the pieces. Scores from Round 1 and Round 2 were combined to determine who advanced to the next round.
Round 3 – Finals
In the final round of competition, 29 dancers advanced. Competitors performed classical and contemporary repertoire not seen in the previous rounds of competition. The scoring began anew, and dancers competed for their opportunity at a prize. The performances were incredible and talent filled the stage. All finalists received a $1,500 stiped from the Peggy Mize Fund to help cover travel expenses.
Awards & Encore Gala
Medalists and Award winners performed a program hand-selected by the Jury and were accompanied by a live orchestra. The awards were presented at the Awards Gala.
International Jury
The 2023 International Jury was tasked with the responsibility of scoring all performances throughout the competition. They utilized their vast knowledge and expertise to perfectly select the medalist and award winners for the 2023 USA IBC.
