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Michelle N. Gibson, professor of practice in Meadows’ Division of Dance and professional choreographer, traveled with eight B.F.A. students of color to Pittsburgh, PA for the 35th International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) conference in late January.

The conference, themed “The Bridges We Build: From Revolution to Legacy,” marks the first year that students from Meadows School of the Arts have had the opportunity to attend the event. 

Over the course of the weekend, Division of Dance students Siya Darby, Sophia Harris, Kyndall Johnson, Christina Jones, Darius Kaiser, Javon Mitchell, Mia Sherrod and Jada Spriggs attended dance technique classes and dance history lectures, as well as connected with fellow emerging artists in the field.

“This trip was an essential opportunity for Meadows dancers to not only learn, engage, and interface with African American leading practitioners, educators, and scholars within the field, but to be immersed in Black dance culture and joy,” Gibson says. “Attending IABD gave the students a chance to connect with other young people from around the world that share similar dreams and passions towards dance, embracing new friendships and new connections.”

From taking classes from dance giants such as Cleo Parker Robinson and Ronald K Brown to experiencing the professional audition process with esteemed educators and artistic directors, the studentswere exposed to the highest levels of achievement in dance education, performance, scholarship and lectures throughout the duration of the conference.

Students were also able to learn from companies, teachers and scholars who specifically focus on aesthetics that incorporate the Black voice. They even interacted with Black dance pioneers, some of whom they had previously studied or researched during their time in Meadows’ dance program.

“As a Black woman, Black artist, Black educator, Black choreographer, and Black practitioner I felt that it was important for students of color to have the opportunity, as I did as a young dancer, to be put in a space where they can see the reflection of themselves within the field,” explained Gibson.

Gibson began her professional connection with the IABD in1992 as a student attending the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts in Louisiana when she performed for the organization, and she wanted to ensure her students had the same chance.

That connection has now come full circle as Gibson was not only traveling with her students but also attending the conference as a presenter. She was selected to share her pedagogical practice, aesthetic and scholarship at IABD through two movement workshops and a lecture demonstration. Her lecture and movement practice, “The Black Church, The Black Body, Spirit Shut Up In My Bones” emphasized how Black theology and dance are intertwined not as a thing of the past, but as a necessity of the present.

And Meadows was well-represented at the conference even beyond Gibson and her eight students. The current Mustangs were able to reconnect with four Meadows Division of Dance alumni over the weekend: Sole Mitchell and Karmen Moore who are presently members of the Radio City Rockettes, Caeli Blake who is a company member with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, and Jamal Story who is a performing artist, teacher, and IABD audition facilitator were all in attendance as well.

Gibson is incredibly grateful for the opportunity and considers it a blessing to have been able to share this experience with her students in the Division of Dance.

“I would like to thank ҹɫ����Meadows School of the Arts – Dean Sam Holland, Dean Barbara Hill Moore and Maria Dixon; ҹɫ����Meadows Division of Dance and administration – Chair Christopher Dolder, Heather Guthrie and Alvon Reed; and all constituents who supported this moment to take place for our students.”