39th Annual Black College Dance Exchange 2026

The Dance Program at Prairie View A&M University proudly presents the 39th Annual Black College Dance Exchange 2026, a dynamic, three-day celebration of dance education, performance, scholarship, and creative exchange. The conference will be hosted by Prairie View A&M University, home to a nationally respected Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance, known for its rigorous technical training, student dance organizations, interdisciplinary scholarship, and deep commitment to developing adaptable artists and leaders. The BCDE conference will feature an opening social, master dance classes, panel discussions, scholarship auditions, professional company concert, and a banquet. Originally founded as the Black College Dance Exchange, the conference emerged as a national convening that connected college dance programs, professional artists, and educators through performance, scholarship, mentorship, and shared cultural practice. Today, BCDE builds on that powerful foundation while expanding its invitation to a broader national community of institutions and artists. The annual conference is typically held during the second weekend of April and is hosted by a different member institution each year. This rotating location provides student participants and directors with opportunities for travel and exposure to HBCU campuses across diverse regions of the country. The conference invites participants into a living laboratory of movement, ideas, and shared inquiry. Over three days, the dance conference becomes a space where technique meets innovation, tradition meets experimentation, and embodied knowledge becomes a catalyst for growth, visibility, and collective momentum. The conference is open to all individuals ages eight and older.