Hey everyone,
So, if you haven’t heard yet, the Kennedy Center just made a move that’s sending shockwaves through the dance community. They’ve eliminated their entire dance programming team. Yes, you read that right. The whole team.
This isn’t just some minor administrative shuffle—it’s a huge deal. The Kennedy Center has long been one of the most important stages for dance in the U.S., hosting everything from ballet and contemporary to cultural dance forms from around the world. For dancers, choreographers, and fans, this place is sacred ground.
Now, with the programming team gone, who’s going to curate these performances? Who’s going to advocate for emerging artists or ensure that diverse voices are represented? Relying on outside producers might save money in the short term, but it risks turning the Kennedy Center into just another venue booking whatever’s trendy or profitable, rather than nurturing the art form itself.
And let’s talk about timing. This is happening amid reported staffing shakeups and renovations—some say tied to Trump-era changes. Whether that’s true or not, it feels symbolic of a larger trend where arts funding and support are constantly on the chopping block. Dance already struggles for visibility and resources compared to other performing arts. This feels like a step backward, not forward.
What’s especially frustrating is how this decision was made without much transparency. No clear plan for how dance will be programmed moving forward, no reassurance for artists who’ve built relationships with the Center over years. It’s a raw deal for everyone who believes dance deserves a platform at the highest level.
If there’s a silver lining here, it’s that the dance community is resilient. We’ve seen time and again that when institutions falter, artists and advocates step up. Maybe this will spark a bigger conversation about how we value and support dance in America. But honestly, it shouldn’t take a crisis like this to get people talking.
What do you all think? Is this a sign of things to come for other arts institutions? Drop your thoughts below.
Stay moving,
DanceWami
