The USA International Ballet Competition (IBC), is a platform for tomorrow’s dance stars. But history also has a place there. The IBC in Jackson, a small international ballet competition, is revered for its integrity. It’s rich in tradition and hosts dozens of familiar faces every four years. Old Home Week is a time when there are many returning competitors, former judges, coaches and ballet directors. There are also a few fans who attend, some even from other states. The IBC begins Sunday with two weeks of festive ballet. This will not only highlight the competition between elite young dancers but also make Jackson a global capital for dance. The 14 competition performances, Awards Gala, Encore Gala, and Opening Ceremony will all be held in Thalia Mara Hall. There will also be films, lectures, and competitor classes at the Jackson Convention Complex. For IBC tickets, visit usaibc.tix.com. Here is a list of familiar faces and at least one voice IBC fans will hear at Thalia Mara Hall. Also, their roles. Kathy Thibodeaux — Torch bearer at the Gertrude C. Ford Opening Ceremony Sunday. She says, “It’s an honor… It’s a wonderful privelege.” Her preparation? “Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes.” Thibodeaux of Jackson was the senior women’s silver medalist at the 1982 IBC. “It was just an amazing memory for me — it was the whole thing that was very special, being in a position to represent the city, this great state.” In 1986, Thibodeaux and Keith founded Ballet Magnificat!, a non-profit Christian ballet company. It is now an international company and has been a pioneer in Christian dance. The satellite program for Brazilian trainees is now in its second year. There’s also interest in opening a school in Brazil. Thibodeaux has performed on the Thalia Mara Hall’s stage since 1968 when it was renamed Jackson Municipal Auditorium. “Lord willing,” I’ll be dancing this Christmas and it will mark my 50th year on this stage. William Fulton — Offstage announcer, master of ceremonies during competition and onstage in Round III, along with Julie Kent, Washington Ballet artistic director. He says that he is so happy to be back after missing the previous two IBCs due to prior commitments. Fulton, who was the long-serving director of Public Radio Mississippi (now MPB radio), presently lives in New York City. He teaches four languages, including Russian, Polish, German, and Polish. He also leads cultural tours around the world. Fulton is also an actor at the Metropolitan Opera, sometimes playing a part in the live scenery, and sometimes as a character. I have the opportunity to be on the Met stage, which is a hell of a lot fun.” He moved to Jackson in 1992, two years after the IBC was founded. “So, basically, I hung around with the jury every day,” he said. This was back in 1986, when Robert Joffrey, Bolshoi Ballet’s Yuri Grigorovich, were co-chairs. He said, “It was quite a heady company.” He also hosted a live broadcast on public television of the IBC’s final and helped masters of ceremonies navigate through the maze of foreign name pronunciation. He says that he enjoys getting the names exactly the way they want it. IBC staffers agree that Fulton’s extensive knowledge of classical music is a great bonus. Vadim Pisarev — Member the International Jury. According to IBC leaders, Pisarev was delighted to see Jackson IBC representatives at the 2017 international ballet competition in Moscow. He also accepted the invitation to be a juror again. Pisarev, who hails from Donetsk in Ukraine, was one of the three first artists from the U.S.S.R. that competed in Jackson in 1986. He broke his arm in the competition but his talent, artistry and flexible, flesh-colored skin made the injury almost invisible. He has been awarded medals at international competitions, was named “Best dancer of U.S.R. (1990, Moscow public), and “Best dancer of all time in the World” (1995 UNESCO), and is now artistic director of Donetsk National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater. Carol Pucket, IBC chair, walked up to him in Moscow. With a single word, “Bumblebee”, the years passed away and all of his memories reconnected. Puckett said that his contemporary Jackson competition piece was choreographed according to “Flight of the Bumblebee.” Jackson IBC fans will be able to see Katherine Barkman, a senior competitor representing the United States, perform onstage for the second (or third) time during the competition. Barkman was a semi finalist in 2014 and won an award. She is now a principal dancer for Ballet Manila and will compete in the senior couple section. She was awarded a Grand Prix Cup, silver medal in Hong Kong, and gold bronze medals at international competition in New Orleans and Berlin. (Barkman’s Ballet Manila artistic Director and mentor Lisa Macuja Elizalde was a senior competitor in this competition here in 1990. Joseph Phillips — Non-competing partner of Barkman. Phillips was the junior men’s silver medalist in Jackson in 2002. He went on to win so many gold medals in dance, that he was called “the golden boy” of ballet. Barkman and Phillips were guests artists in Ballet Mississippi’s December production of “The Nutcracker.” Rieko Hatato — Senior Japanese competitor. She was a Jackson competitor in 2014. She said that she wanted to be inspired again. Her competition awards included a silver medal in Miami 2018 and a bronze medal in Moscow 2013. Fuki Takahashi — Senior competitor representing Japan. She was a Jackson 2014 competitor. “I wanted to compete against the top dancers from around the world,” she said. She was awarded second place at the international dance festival TANZOLYMP Berlin. Takahiro Hayashi — Senior competitor representing Japan. Hayashi, who won gold in the 2016 and 2018 Tokyo ballet competitions, says that she would love to dance better at the IBC Jackson in 2014. Seitaro Tatsumi — Senior competitor representing Japan. His awards include a third-place finish at the Tokyo Shinbun All Japan Dance Competition 2018 and second place finishes in competitions held in 2016 and 2011. Ariel Breitman — Senor competitor representing Israel. Breitman, a Pennsylvania native, will compete in senior couple division. He has won three gold medals at Youth America Grand Prix competition as well as one silver medal in international competition in Berlin. Breitman, a Pennsylvania native, is returning to the IBC to fulfill a childhood dream to “study dance by studying hours of Baryshnikov video clips…the energy is inspiring and electric!”