For Everyone: Dance Exchange at 50

For Everyone: Dance Exchange at 50 celebrates the Washington, D.C.-area performing arts organization Dance Exchange, which has spent five decades working as a dance company, a research and creation laboratory, and a vehicle for community engagement. The organization has used movement to investigate pressing contemporary issues and build connections across communities.

Curated by Ben Jackson of the University of Maryland’s Special Collections in Performing Arts, the exhibition features archival objects selected by Dance Exchange founder Liz Lerman from the company’s collections at the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library. It traces Dance Exchange’s development and lasting influence while demonstrating how archival materials can shape narratives and help preserve shared history. The event is part of the 2026 NextNOW Fest, The Clarice’s multi-day festival of performances and arts experiences, which is open to the public.

When: Thursday, September 10, 2026, and Friday, September 11, 2026

Showtimes: 6:00 p.m. on both dates

Tickets: Free

Venue: Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

Registration: Registration is available through the NextNOW Fest registration link.

Livestream: Not available

Ages: Not specified

Accessibility: Available services include wheelchair-accessible seating, size-inclusive seating, large-print programs, assisted-listening devices, adult and child-friendly sensory packs, and quiet spaces. ASL interpretation, audio description, and captioning are available for select events or by request at least six weeks in advance.