DI_convention_MAINBy Chelsea Thomas of Dance Informa 

ADC|IBC will celebrate its 10th Anniversary Season in Spring 2015, and the competition is raising the barre with sizable cash prizes, new events, no more inter-city travel and even more scholarship monies for select competitors. For the first time, dancers can plan for an extra day of dancing as a sixth day was added to the previously five-day event. Plus, ballet enthusiasts can now watch Round I classes streaming live, not just the Round II performances.

Discussing the upcoming season, Audrianna Broad, founder and president of ADC|IBC, said, “It’s a huge milestone! I can’t say it’s a surprise because it’s something that we work very hard on to achieve, but I think it’s exciting. I think everyone involved and others in the larger ballet world are seeing the value in ADC|IBC and what the kids are getting out of it.”

The Florida-based competition, which launched in 2005, now sees more than 600 dancers compete each season. It first came together when Broad, a former dancer with Orlando Ballet, decided to meld her ballet experience with her economics and investments education. A decade later, ADC|IBC awards more than $75,000 in scholarships and prizes every year, giving talented young dancers a strong backing as they seek further professional opportunities.

“We’ll have everything we’ve had in the past this season, which is quite a significant roster of opportunities from our partner schools,” Broad said. “We have one of the largest sources of funding in ballet competitions right now and we’re working on really honing in on top-tier companies for our most talented competitors.”

Partnering schools, companies and intensives include Ajkun Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, BalletMet Columbus, Ballet West, Boston International Ballet Intensive (hosted by Koltun Ballet Academy), Ellison Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Joffrey Ballet School, Louisville Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Rock School for Dance Education, Sarasota Ballet and Tulsa Ballet.

In addition to these connections, one of the ways ADC|IBC stands out is its reputation for objective, non-biased judging. Dancers of all nationalities, ages 7-21, will be judged equally, explains Broad.

Click here to read more about this exciting competition!