USAIBC Kicks Off 50th Anniversary Celebration, Unveils Poster Artist, and Announces It Will Host Positioning Ballet

“Fifty years ago, Thalia Mara had a vision that Jackson could be a home for world-class ballet — and next June, we’re proving that vision is still very much alive. USA IBC XIII is a Golden Anniversary celebration in every sense: we’re welcoming back Gold Medalists who once stood on our stage, went on to build storied careers, and now lead ballet companies around the world; unveiling a 50th anniversary poster by an artist whose work is all about memory and legacy; and hosting Positioning Ballet, whose members lead ballet companies and schools around the world, right here in Jackson. Add to that an economic impact approaching $48 million and visitors from 24 nations in 2023 alone, and it’s clear this isn’t just an anniversary — it’s proof of what Jackson has built — and next June, the world comes to Dance Jackson,” said Mona Nicholas, USA IBC Executive Director.

Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann, Mayor John Horhn, and Visit Jackson President and CEO Dr. Rickey Thigpen joined USA IBC board members and staff to celebrate the milestone.

In honor of the anniversary, USA IBC announced it will welcome home Gold Medalists from competitions spanning more than four decades (1982–2023) for a special Golden Anniversary celebration during the June 2027 competition. Jury Chair John Meehan, who has chaired the USA IBC International Jury three times, spoke at today’s kickoff about the 50th Anniversary, the International Jury, and the returning Gold Medalists. Susan Jaffe, a longtime principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, serves as Honorary Jury Chair.

Returning Gold Medalists who have shared their information include Gigi Hyatt and Janie Parker (1982); Kiki Lammersen and Jennifer Gelfand (1986); Martha Butler (1990); Simon Ball, Dai Sasaki, and Zenaida Yanowsky (1994); Adrienne Canterna, Rolando Sarabia Oquendo, and Rasta Thomas (1998); Joseph Phillips (2002); Misa Kuranaga (2006); Gisele Bethea, Taiyu He, and Hansol Jeong (2014); and Alexei Orohovsky and Ryo Sasaki (2023), along with City of Jackson Grand Prix winner Johan Kobborg (1994).

Commemorative Poster Unveiled

Today’s kickoff also included the unveiling of the 2027 USA IBC 50th Anniversary commemorative poster and the official announcement of its winning artist, Lauren Commarato. She was selected earlier this year through USA IBC’s Official Artist & Poster Contest.

“Lauren’s work is about what landscapes hold onto — memory, time, the stories a place keeps. That felt like exactly the right lens for a 50th anniversary poster: fifty years is its own kind of landscape,” said Nicholas. Benchmark Construction Corporation is the Official Artist and Poster Sponsor.

Positioning Ballet

USA IBC also announced that it will host Positioning Ballet in Jackson during the 50th Anniversary competition. Positioning Ballet, a global platform founded in 2017 by cultural entrepreneur Assis Carreiro and Ted Brandsen, former Artistic Director of Dutch National Ballet, connects current and future artistic directors of ballet and dance companies and schools worldwide. Its work strengthens leadership, partnerships, inclusion, diversity, health, wellbeing, and safeguarding across the dance profession.

The Positioning Ballet Conference will take place in Jackson June 24–26, 2027, in collaboration with USA IBC as part of its 50th Anniversary celebrations. It will focus on the issues that matter most to those shaping the future of ballet: artistic leadership and talent development, the challenges of transitioning from elite training to the demanding professional life of a dancer, and the evolving role of ballet within the wider cultural landscape.

“We are honored to host Positioning Ballet in Jackson during our 50th Anniversary competition. Positioning Ballet brings together the people who lead or aspire to lead ballet companies and schools around the world, and welcoming that community to Dance Jackson is a fitting way to celebrate fifty years of artistic excellence,” said Nicholas.

“The team at Positioning Ballet is thrilled to be working with the USA IBC in Jackson next year, when 50 years of this prestigious and important ballet competition are celebrated. We look forward to bringing together leaders of companies and schools for meaningful discussions and exchanges on the present and future of ballet,” said Ted Brandsen, Director, Positioning Ballet Foundation.

The USA IBC was founded by Thalia Mara, and the first competition was held in 1979. The USA IBC is the official international ballet competition in the United States by Joint Resolution of Congress.

Economic Impact Nears $50M

The 2023 USA IBC (USA IBC XII) drew approximately 47,700 attendees from 32 states and 24 nations and generated an economic impact approaching $48 million, according to data compiled by Visit Jackson. Print and online coverage resulted in almost 400 million media impressions worldwide.

“People sometimes think of ballet as niche. An economic impact approaching $48 million and visitors from 32 states and 24 nations around the world says otherwise — this is one of Jackson’s biggest stages, in every sense, on a truly international scale,” said Nicholas.

The USA IBC International Dance School, held in conjunction with the competition, will open applications on November 1, 2026. Dancers ages 12 and up study with leading teachers under the artistic direction of Charles Askegard and attend evening competition performances. The 2023 school drew 87 students from 12 states and three nations.

The 2027 International Jury will include Feng Ying, China; Stanton Welch, Australia; Angel Corella, Spain; Kiki Lammersen, Germany; José Carreño, Cuba; Lauren Anderson, USA; Misa Kuranaga, Japan; Nina Ananiashvili, Georgia; Edwaard Liang, Taiwan; Johan Kobborg, Denmark; and Ashley Wheater, UK.

New Ticket-Pak options for the 2027 competition include:

• Grande: one ticket to each of the 12 competition performances, plus Opening Night and the Grande Finale performances
• Demi: three packages, each covering one round of the competition plus Opening Night
• Date Night: two tickets to the Grande Finale performances and two to the Grand Prix Ball
• Members of the International Ballet Association receive early access to Ticket-Pak sales in January 2027.

Competitor applications for the 2027 USA IBC opened October 1, 2026. More information about the 50th Anniversary USA IBC is available at usaibc.com.