Bringing Black Dance to B-Town: MODE and The First National Congress of Blacks in Dance exhibit

Created in 1969 in New York City, the Modern Organization of Dance Evolvement worked to provide support to the Black dance community and established programs that allowed communities to better connect with the art of dance. 50 years ago, in 1973, MODE and IU’s Black Music Center partnered to organize The First National Congress of Blacks in Dance at Indiana University. The seven-day conference brought roughly 400 Black dancers, choreographers, and dance enthusiasts to Bloomington with the goal to “identify and preserve the continuity of traditions and skills between generations of Black dance artists” and included master classes, film screenings, dance performances, and social events all centered around the celebration of African American dance and culture.

Curated by IU Archives Graduate Assistant Jo Otremba.

University Archives will be closed on Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day (July 3-4), and Labor Day (September 4) so this exhibit will be unavailable on those days.