Martha Graham Dance Company withdraws Kennedy Center dates on centennial tour

The Martha Graham Dance Company said on Friday that it would not perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts this spring as part of the troupe’s centennial tour of the United States.

The New York–based company, the oldest in the country, had been scheduled to appear at the Kennedy Center four times from April 2 to 4. In a statement the troupe said, “The Martha Graham Dance Company regrets that we are unable to perform at the Kennedy Center in April. We hope to perform at the center in the future.” The tour also includes stops in Chicago; Sarasota, Fla.; and Chapel Hill, N.C.

The company did not give a reason for the withdrawal. The announcement comes after the Kennedy Center’s board voted last month to add President Trump’s name to the building; in his second term, the president has named himself chairman, installed a political ally as its executive director and filled its board with supporters. Several other artists and groups have also pulled out of Kennedy Center events, including Béla Fleck, jazz musicians who canceled holiday concerts, and the Washington National Opera, which said last week it would permanently move out.

The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the troupe did not provide further details about the April withdrawal beyond its statement that it hopes to perform at the center in the future.

Key Topics

Culture, Martha Graham, Kennedy Center, Washington, Centennial Tour, Béla Fleck