The International Association of Blacks in Dance preserves and promotes dance by people of African ancestry or origin, and assists and increases opportunities for artists in advocacy, audience development, education, funding, networking, performance, philosophical dialogue, and touring. The Association, founded in 1991, provides a network, formal newsletters, choreographers directory, published papers and is the raison d’être for the Annual International Conference and Festival of Blacks in Dance, that is the broadest gathering of Black Dance professionals in the U.S. and Internationally. The Association also responds to and initiates dialogue around issues that impact the Black Dance Community as well as the Dance community at large.