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Friday, March 29, 2024

Newly appointed Iibada executive director brings ability to connect, professionalism to the position

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On June 29 at about 6:20 p.m., Roland Smith asked his eight dance students to form two lines on the far side of the studio. They were about to do movements ā€” glides, slides, walks, snaps ā€” across the floor.

Smith, executive director for Iibada Dance Company, demonstrated a few moves for the students before they repeated the series of slides and quick steps. As they moved, Smith, referred to as Baba Ro, clapped to the beat of the music and corrected their posture, speed and lines. Any major errors resulted in them going back to repeat the combination, this time, the right way.

In one of his final demonstrations, Smith showed his students a move where he started with his arms bent and above his head with his palms up. He then brought his hands, now in a claw shape, down halfway to his sides.

ā€œMeow,ā€ one of the students said.

The whole classroom giggled, including Smith. He was strict, but free enough to recognize a fun way that student decided to remember his teachings.

Smith took over as Iibadaā€™s executive director in April, after Iibada founder Sabra Logan stepped down.

Logan said she chose Smith for the position because he shares her vision for what the company can accomplish, and he has a passion for the arts and working with children.

ā€œHe was the best fit for the organization,ā€ she said.

Gene Ford, Iibada board member and parent, said Smith is a true professional, in both his actions and demeanor. He said he believes that as executive director Smith will bring dance to areas that donā€™t have easy access to arts programs through both outreach and fundraising.

As Iibadaā€™s executive director, Smith said he will continue to work on equity and access to courses by further developing programs such as Dare to Dance, Iibadaā€™s after-school program. He also wants to build more sustainable resources to help students grow even more as artists within their organization.

Smith started as an instructor at Iibada in 2004, about one year after he graduated with a degree in commercial music and performance from Tennessee State University. He stayed at the organization until 2007, when he moved to Chicago after being cast in a production of ā€œNefertiti: A Concert of Music and Dance.ā€ During the 11 years he and his family were in Chicago, Smith performed in professional dance companies and eventually earned the position of visual and performing arts director for Noble Network of Charter Schools.

As he worked with students and saw them grow as dancers and people because of his instruction, Smith developed a stronger adoration for working with children and arts administration.

ā€œAfter that I got the bug,ā€ he said. ā€œI was ready to do this forever.ā€

After moving back to Indianapolis in 2018, Smith knew he would return to Iibada. He wanted to continue working for a program that was predominantly African American children ā€” something he didnā€™t have growing up.

Ford said this was one of the reasons he signed his daughters up for lessons at Iibada. At other dance companies he looked at, his daughters would have been two of very few Black children and they would have been dancing in styles that arenā€™t representative of their culture. At Iibada, his daughters are appreciated for their complexions and heritage by both older dancers and instructors such as Smith.

Smith said he is a discipline-oriented instructor because he knows that expecting excellence can make students perform better and hold themselves to a higher standard. However, building a strong relationship with the students is just as important as teaching them the steps, he said.

ā€œI am a father first, so I do have that fatherly type of relationship with all of them,ā€ he said. ā€œI am strict, I am firm, but I do come at it with love.ā€

Iibada student Iyanna Eaton, 21, has been taking classes from Smith for about two years. Eaton said she loves having Smith as an instructor because he pushes her to do dance moves she didnā€™t originally have the confidence to do. Recently, Smith asked Eaton to learn a gospel solo in two days and perform it because he knew she could work well under pressure.

ā€œHe knows I have the potential to do it,ā€ she said. ā€œI am so happy he trusted me.ā€
Smith said he tries to put trust in all his students, even in small ways, such as repeating moves in warmups so eventually older students can lead the class if he needs to step out. He knows building that confidence within his students is what will move them up to the next level, even if it starts with them meowing in the middle of his instruction.

Contact staff writer Madison Smalstig at 317-924-5143. Follow her on Twitter @madi_smals.

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