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‘Broadway in Black’

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For more than 20 years, Iibada Dance Company has been showcasing the fine art of dance and inspiring youth in the Indianapolis community to appreciate it. 

Lovers of dance and the performing arts have come to expect consistent quality from Iibada’s engaging productions.

The dance company is now completing preparation for its latest production, “Broadway in Black,” which will make its grand premiere at the Madame Walker Theatre on Aug. 6, 7 and 8.

“Broadway in Black” will incorporate some of the best movements in both contemporary and traditional styles of dancing with interpretations of major Broadway favorites, including recent productions and classics like “The Wiz,” “The Color Purple,” “The Lion King,” “Porgy and Bess,” “Ain’t Misbehavin'” and “Dream Girls.”

√Sabra Logan, founding artistic director of Iibada, said the goal of “Broadway in Black” is to restore enthusiasm for dance and African American productions.

“We just wanted people to get history and information about great plays that people may not remember and many children do not know,” Logan said.

“Broadway in Black” will also mark the beginning of an outreach effort to reacquaint the community with Iibada to expand its audience, and launch a new campaign for the construction of a permanent dance studio.

“Broadway in Black” will feature Indianapolis native Jeffrey Page, an Emmy nominated choreographer who has built a resume that has taken him everywhere from West African villages to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

Page has worked on projects for several music superstars, most notably Beyonce Knowles for her world tour, as well as her appearances on the MTV Video Music Awards, Fashion Rocks and the World Music Awards.

More recently, Page has served as a resident choreographer for the Fox television program “So You Think You Can Dance.”

This week it was announced that Page was nominated for a MTV Video Music Award in the category of best choreography for Knowles’ “Girls Run the World” video, which will premiere Aug. 28.

“This is such an unexpected honor,” Page said. “An instance where we as a team of choreographers are acknowledged and praised for our collective work is quite fulfilling.”

Iibada Dance Company is a not for profit 501c3 organization that offers a performance company for dancers ages 7-21 that showcases productions throughout the year, as well as a training company that provides dance classes for children ages 5-18.

A Baltimore native, Logan established Iibada in 1989 after training in the jazz, modern, African and ballet styles of dancing. She noticed that Indianapolis had a need for a venue that could educate children about the African dance heritage.

Many of its students have gone on to nationally known programs such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and the Cleo Parker Watson Dance Company. Others return to Iibada to serve as mentors to the next generation of dancers.

Logan is looking forward to seeing past and current Iibada dancers being reunited during “Broadway in Black.”

“Iibada has been an asset to the community, and we have turned out some amazing talent,” said Micah Smith, a local dancer and supporter. “This show will surely energize people, and Iibada has some awesome things planned for 2012.”

 

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