June 10, 2010: From June 8-28, 2010, Belhaven once again host the International Ballet Competition (IBC) as its ‘International Village.’ The university facilities provide dancers and other participants housing and meals on the campus, as well as the use of our beautiful campus including the spacious dance studios and concert hall. The Student Center and Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center are two key areas where the dancers will be prepare for their competition.
The Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center is home to four professional dance studios, a fully equipped dance performance theatre, computer design labs, faculty offices, photography studios and darkroom, painting, drawing and sculpture studios, and a beautiful art gallery.
40,000-square-foot Student Center provides a central gathering center for the interactions of students, faculty, and staff. Highlights of the facility include a new 4,000-square-foot College Bookstore, the renovated Bailey Dining Commons, the Shoe Bird Café, the Corner Pocket recreation room, the Dr. James W. Park Computer Center, a prayer room, a 49-seat multi-media theatre and the campus post office.
As David Potvin, Asst. VP for Campus Operations, described, “This event is a two-week ‘Olympic-style’ competition where tomorrow’s ballet stars vie for gold, silver, and bronze medals, cash awards, and scholarships. Designated as the official USA Competition by a 1982 Joint Resolution of Congress, the USA IBC is held every four years, in the tradition of sister competitions in Varna, Bulgaria, and Moscow, Russia.”
The Belhaven Dance Department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance and represents one of 30 institutions in the nation accredited in all four areas of the arts - visual art, music, theater, and dance - Belhaven competes at the highest level in the arts with some of the top schools in the nation.
Belhaven University, formerly Belhaven College, prepares men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas. Founded in 1883, the University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, and online.