KC Spotlight: Ailey dance company returns! Revelations, DC premieres & more

Plus Herbie Hancock, Ballet Flamenco, NSO at Wolf Trap, The Rite of Spring, Ute Lemper, the D.C. premiere of Blue, Into the Woods & more [View this email in your browser.]( [Kennedy Center]( [Kennedy Center]( “Watching Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater can change your life.” —The New York Times Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater OPENS NEXT WEEK! Feb. 7–12 | Opera House Celebrating more than 60 years of unparalleled artistry, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has always been a treasured part of the Kennedy Center experience since we opened our doors in 1971.  Never failing to remind us of the power of dance to bring us together, the company presents mixed repertory programs of signature Ailey classics and new works from the most dynamic choreographers of today. All performances feature Ailey’s masterpiece of hope and redemption Revelations. [Explore the repertoire >]( [Get Tickets]( 🌐 [Follow @alvinailey on Instagram]( MORE DANCE & Ballet COMING SOON United Ukrainian Ballet: Giselle OPENS TONIGHT! Feb. 1–5 | Opera House Don’t miss one of the greatest romantic ballets of all time performed by world-class artists united by the tragedy of war and an ardent hope for the future. [Get Tickets]( American Ballet Theatre: Romeo and Juliet Feb. 15–19 | Opera House The esteemed company performs Shakespeare’s tale of forbidden love with a “dance tapestry rich in character that is rhapsodic and sensuous” (New York Times). [Get Tickets]( Red Sky Performance Miigis: Underwater Panther Mar. 2–4 Terrace Theater Experience the power of nature and Indigenous prophecy through contemporary Indigenous dance, theatrical innovation, and a fusion of athleticism, music, and film. [Get Tickets]( Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras: Alma Mar. 29 & 30 Eisenhower Theater The flamenco superstar returns after wowing audiences at the 2015 IBERIAN SUITE: global arts remix festival. Sara Baras now brings her latest show Alma following its world premiere in 2021. [Get Tickets]( What’s On! JUST ANNOUNCED & ON SALE NOW! RiverRun A month-long celebration of the world’s rivers and their cultures March 22–April 22 Spanning World Water Day (March 22) to Earth Day (April 22), hundreds of extraordinary talents from around the world—musicians, actors, dancers, circus artists, authors, filmmakers, chefs, and visual artists—converge at the Kennedy Center for RiverRun festival. [Learn More & View the Schedule >]( Save with RiverPass! Buy 2 RiverRun performances and save 20%, buy 3 or more and save 30% No code necessary, discount will be applied automatically. Purchase must be made in one transaction to receive the discount. Read The Washington Post profile:[Kennedy Center’s 10-year plan seeks artful ways to protect the planet]( [THEATER]( Broadway Center Stage Sunset Boulevard Feb. 1–8 Eisenhower Theater OPENS TONIGHT! For Broadway Center Stage, Tony Award-winning powerhouse Stephanie J. Block (The Cher Show, Falsettos, Wicked) takes on the iconic role of Norma Desmond. Based on the 1950 film noir, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony-winning masterpiece is a must-see event. [Get Tickets]( Into The Woods Feb. 23–Mar. 19 Opera House Following a sold-out engagement at New York City Center and a hugely acclaimed transfer to Broadway, Into the Woods is coming to the Kennedy Center. Directed by Lear deBessonet (Hercules), this theatrical event honors Stephen Sondheim’s legendary memory and his masterpiece like never before. [Get Tickets]( [HIP HOP & CONTEMPORARY MUSIC]( 📣 JUST ANNOUNCED! BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Concert Mar. 11 | Concert Hall BGR!FEST™ returns for a weekend of activations featuring a main stage performance! BGR!FEST™ is an extension of the BLACK GIRLS ROCK! brand, providing a platform to showcase the talents, vision, and innovation of women of color. [On Sale tomorrow!]( Herbie Hancock June 27 | Concert Hall The legendary pianist and composer graces the Concert Hall with another unmissable, one-night-only performance! A 2013 Kennedy Center Honoree and winner of 14 Grammy Awards, Herbie Hancock continues to defy expectations and transfix audiences. [Get Tickets]( COMING THIS MONTH Culture Talks: Electric Circus at 20 with Common, Bilal & Marcus J. Moore Feb. 6 | Terrace Theater Author and music journalist Marcus J. Moore sits down with Common and special guest Bilal to discuss the creation, impact, and legacy of Electric Circus on the 20th anniversary of its release. This conversation will offer new insights on an exceptional album that was long before its time. [SELECT SEATS 50% OFF]( The Roots Residency Black Thought: Streams of Thought With special guest Titus Kaphar Feb. 18 | Terrace Theater Join us for an intimate discussion encompassing art, inspiration, and creative consciousness featuring the acclaimed lyricist/writer/composer Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter and renowned artist and 2018 MacArthur Fellow Titus Kaphar. [Get Tickets]( [NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA]( Beatrice Rana plays Schumann’s Piano Concerto James Gaffigan conducts Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony Feb 2 & 4 | Concert Hall Beatrice Rana, “one of the most insightful and prodigiously gifted artists of the new generation” (The New York Times) makes her NSO debut performing Schumann’s gorgeous Piano Concerto. Then, Dvořák’s Seventh draws us into a world of mystery, tension, and wild heroic energy. In the hands James Gaffigan, this dark extravaganza of a symphony is an event. [Get Tickets]( Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring Dego plays Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 Feb. 9–11 | Concert Hall Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring Dego plays Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 Feb. 9–11 | Concert Hall Krzysztof Urbański brings his “dashing, rock star vibe” (The Los Angeles Times) to Stravinsky’s masterpiece—a primal, riotous ballet score that shocked audiences into a frenzy at its Paris premiere. Francesca Dego makes her NSO Kennedy Center debut performing Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, a timely, restorative work of grace, compassion, and nomadic charm. [Get Tickets]( NSO AT THE ANTHEM A Night at the Symphony with Mozart & Dvořák Feb. 3 | The Anthem 901 Wharf St., SW Washington, DC | 20024 Ditch your tux—this is a new way to enjoy the symphony! Join the NSO in an exciting, laid-back new atmosphere as musicians deconstruct the concert experience without deconstructing the music. Don’t miss this one-night-only performance of Dvořák’s mysterious, dramatic Seventh Symphony led by James Gaffigan. [Get Tickets]( JUST ANNOUNCED! NSO at Wolf Trap 2023 Enchanting music under the stars! This summer’s NSO season at Wolf Trap offers star-studded symphonic masterworks, iconic film scores live-to-picture, and more. [Learn More & View the Schedule >]( [The Club at Studio K]( The Club is back! Experience today’s best COMEDY, HIP HOP, JAZZ, and more in an intimate, cabaret-style lounge COMING SOON The Comics of FLATBUSH MISDEMEANORS Feb. 16 Comedians Dan Perlman, Yamaneika Saunders, and Kerry Coddett from Showtime’s FLATBUSH MISDEMEANORS unite for an evening of hilarious standup. The acclaimed series is a raw comedy of city life following friends struggling to thrive in their new surroundings in Brooklyn. [Get Tickets]( Igmar Thomas’ Revive Big Band Feb. 24 Founded by Igmar Thomas, the former music director and bandleader for Ms. Lauryn Hill and Nas, the Revive Big Band is not just a band—it’s a movement. Join them for an exclusive preview of music from their forthcoming debut album combining jazz, Hip Hop, funk, soul, blues, and more. [Get Tickets]( [EXPLORE THE FULL LINEUP >]( [Renée Fleming VOICES]( Ute Lemper Feb. 10 Eisenhower Theater Don’t miss the grand return of Ute Lemper, a “dramatic, imperial, and often quite funny chanteuse” (The New Yorker)! From recording a Grammy-nominated album of classic Berlin cabaret, to winning an Olivier Award for her portrayal of Velma Kelly in the West End production of Chicago, internationally renowned singer and actress has established a vast and varied career. [Get Tickets]( [FORTAS CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS]( Calidore String Quartet Feb. 15 | Terrace Theater Following a “subtly nuanced” (Washington Classical Review) Kennedy Center debut in 2018, the quartet returns to the Terrace Theater for a program that shows off its “deep reserves of virtuosity and irrepressible dramatic instinct” (The New York Times). Audiences will experience works by Beethoven, Janáček, and George Walker—plus a new Kennedy Center commission by Grammy-nominated composer Anna Clyne. [Get Tickets]( [Washington National Opera]( Marian Anderson Vocal  Award Recital: Leah Hawkins Feb. 12 | Terrace Theater This year’s Marian Anderson Vocal Award winner, soprano Leah Hawkins, is praised for her “gleaming sound” (The Washington Post). The 2018 graduate from WNO’s Cafritz Young Artist program has quickly gained a reputation for her compelling performances, with significant debuts on stages such as the Metropolitan Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Portland Opera, Tulsa Opera, and others. [Get Tickets]( Blue Mar. 11–25 Eisenhower Theater WNO presents the long-awaited D.C. premiere of Blue, the “Best New Opera of 2020” (The Music Critics Association of North America). Tony-winning composer Jeanine Tesori and NAACP Theatre Award-winning librettist Tazewell Thompson’s genre-blending new opera, inspired by contemporary events and Black literature, captures the grief of a community, the bonds of a family, and the vulnerabilities of protecting a child. [Get Tickets]( [SOCIAL IMPACT]( A free, three-day celebration of Arab-American performance, art & film 3-DAY FESTIVAL Taking Back Our Narrative Feb. 17–19 at the Kennedy Center Join the Arab America Foundation and the Kennedy Center as we celebrate Arab heritage and highlight the contributions of Arab Americans to America with three days of performances, art, and film screenings. [Learn More & View the Schedule >]( [The Kennedy Center Gift Shop]( [The Kennedy Center Gift Shop]( Gifts for your special Valentine! 💕 [Shop the Valentine’s Day Collection >]( [GIFTS FOR HER]( [XOXO Scarf]( [Silver Garnet Heart Locket Necklace]( [Kennedy Center Cuddle Soft Hoodie]( [GIFTS FOR HIM]( [Leather Journal & Pen Set]( [Kennedy Center Cufflinks]( [Grey Kennedy Center Pullover Sweater]( [GIFTS FOR KIDS]( [The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson]( [Plush Talking Pigeon]( [Kantha Compassion Bracelet]( 🎭 [Shop Theater Nerd Products!]( NEW! [Theater Phrases Puzzle]( NEW! [Theater Phrases Notebook and Pen Set]( [Theater Nerd T-Shirt]( [Shop all products >]( *$7 Flat Rate Ground Shipping for orders $65+ Keeping you safe Masks are optional but welcomed in all Kennedy Center spaces for visitors and staff. We ask that you respect others’ choices, and alert a staff member if you have any concerns. Protocols are subject to change in compliance with revisions to national and local guidelines regarding COVID-19. Visit our [website]( to learn more. See you soon! There’s something for everyone at the Kennedy Center! See [what’s on now](. For tickets and information, call us at 202-467-4600. The Kennedy Center is open to the public Mon.–Sun., 10 a.m.–midnight. The Hall of States Box Office is open Mon.–Sat., 10 a.m.–9 p.m. and Sun. 12–9 p.m. [facebook]( [The Kennedy Center welcomes guests with disabilities.]( [View email in browser.]( | [Forward this email.]( You are receiving this email based on your preferences. [Edit preferences.]( | [Unsubscribe.]( Please do not reply to this email. Add info@kennedy-center.org to your address book or safe list to ensure delivery. We respect our patrons’ privacy. [Read our privacy policy.]( [Contact center & FAQs.]( The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566 Instant Charge (202) 467-4600