Dance Events in DC

Philadelphia Ballet

Join the Philadelphia Ballet for a celebration of American artistry, performing works by Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, and Eliot Feld at the Filene Center.

ROMEO

This fast-paced all-male production reimagines Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet as 'Romeo and Julian,' told through dance and physical storytelling, with music by artists including Rihanna, Maneskin, Madonna, Garbage, and The Irrepressibles.

Burlesque at DU (Details TBA)

Burlesque at DU is a one-night burlesque show presented by Metro Cabaret Club & Dupont Underground in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Music From The Sole

Music From The Sole performs I Didn’t Come to Stay at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts, a vibrant tap dance and live music ensemble led by Leonardo Sandoval and Gregory Richardson.

Firebird

Dance Theatre of Harlem returns to Washington Performing Arts with Firebird, a bold revival of the company’s signature work reimagining the classic tale of love and transformation in a Caribbean setting.

RAVEN’S NIGHT

Raven's Night returns with Arcana, a theatrical fusion belly dance production created by Belladonna and Ken Vegas, described as a journey through discovery, transformation, and empowerment.

Compagnie HERVÉ KOUBI

Compagnie HERVÉ KOUBI makes its Center for the Arts debut with Sol Invictus, a program combining contemporary and urban dance, capoeira, and martial arts, set to music by Mikael Karlsson, Steve Reich, and Maxime Bodson.

Georgian National Ballet "Sukhishvili"

The world-famous Georgian National Ballet "Sukhishvili" will perform in the United States as part of its 80th anniversary celebrations.

The Fruits of Our Labor

Step Afrika! premieres The Fruits of Our Labor, a powerful new production commemorating America’s 250th anniversary and exploring patriotism, identity, resilience, and the unfinished story of the American experience through stepping, percussion, and visual imagery.

Fall M.F.A. Dance Thesis Concert

The Fall MFA Dance Concert features original works from MFA candidates Emilia Bruno and Connor Voss.

Go-Go 50

Celebrate the opening of The Washington Ballet's 50th season with a powerhouse program at the Warner Theatre.

Fall: New Dances 2026

Step out of this cool autumn weather and into a performance filled with diverse choreography and talented dancers.

Shanghai Ballet: Butterfly Lovers

Shanghai Ballet performs Butterfly Lovers, choreographed by Xin Lili to music by Xu Jianqiang.

Shanghai Ballet: Giselle

Shanghai Ballet performs Giselle, choreographed by Marius Petipa and adapted by Xin Lili, in a production the Ottawa Citizen calls 'technically exquisite and emotionally moving.

DECODING DANCE

An entertaining and informative back-stage exploration of five very different dance works, hosted by former NYC Ballet dancer Christopher d'Amboise.

American Ballet Theatre Studio Company

ABT Studio Company, the junior company of American Ballet Theatre, features rising stars of the ballet world between the ages of 16 and 21, preparing them to enter ABT or other leading ballet companies.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

A holiday mash-up for the whole family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker returns for another spectacular tour.

Fall: Dance Innovations 2026

Dance Innovations is a program of new dances by George Mason's School of Dance. It runs December 4-5, 2026, with performances at 2 p. m. and 7:30 p. m. on Friday and 7:30 p. m. on Saturday at Harris Theatre.

NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet

Experience the largest Nutcracker production in North America with world-class international dancers, gravity-defying acrobatics, magnificent costumes, and towering puppets set to Tchaikovsky's iconic score.

Faculty Dance Concert

The Faculty Dance Concert features an exciting blend of new choreography and restaged iconic works, including pieces by Alvin Mayes, Adriane Fang, Maura Keefe, Kendra Portier, and Ama Law.

Dorrance Dance: The Nutcracker Suite

Set to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s interpretation of the Tchaikovsky score, this high-energy reimagining of The Nutcracker Suite blends holiday tradition with explosive tap dancing.

The Nutcracker presented by Virginia National Ballet

Virginia National Ballet presents a classic production of The Nutcracker at the Main Theater, Capital One Hall.

FEVER PRESENTS: BALLET OF LIGHTS

Ballet of Lights performance presented by Fever. Showtimes: Dec 13 at 4:00 PM & 6:00 PM.

Step Afrika!'s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show

A high-energy, family-friendly holiday tradition featuring Step Afrika!, described as the eighth show in Arena Stage's 2026/27 season.

The Nutcracker

The Washington Ballet presents its D. C. original Nutcracker, set in 1882 Georgetown and celebrating the American spirit.

Swan Lake

Classical Arts Entertainment presents Swan Lake, performed by the United European Ballet.

Black Grace

Hailed as one of New Zealand's leading contemporary dance companies, Black Grace blends contemporary and Samoan dance genres to create innovative work that crosses geographic and social boundaries.

FEVER PRESENTS: BALLET OF LIGHTS

A dazzling ballet performance set to a holiday-themed light show, presented by Fever. Showtimes: Feb 7 at 4:00 PM & 6:00 PM.

Alice in Wonderland

World Premiere Dracula

The Washington Ballet presents the world premiere of Edwaard Liang's Dracula, an original retelling of the legendary tale that explores humanity and tragic transformation.

Spring M.F.A. Dance Thesis Concert

The Spring MFA Dance Concert features original works from MFA candidates Kevin Carroll and Jamie Chen.

Dance Gala

The highlight of the George Mason Dance Company season, with works from world-renowned choreographers performed by talented dancers at the start of their professional careers.

Ogemdi Ude: MAJOR

MAJOR is a dance-theater project exploring the complexity of majorette dance, an electrifying Black femme dance form born alongside HBCU marching bands in the American South.

ANNUAL ASDF/BAILA4LIFE LATIN DANCE COMPETITION

The annual ASDF/Baila4Life Latin Dance Competition at Strathmore brings together Montgomery County's elite high school Latin dance students to compete in Senior and Junior divisions.

Martha Graham Dance Company

The Martha Graham Dance Company returns to the Center for the Arts with its landmark Graham100 tour, honoring a century of groundbreaking artistry.

Ronald K. Brown / EVIDENCE

Ronald K. Brown / EVIDENCE performs a program of works choreographed by Ronald K. Brown, including Upside Down, Clear as Tear Water, Gatekeepers, and Grace.

Spring: Dance Innovations 2027

Come revel in the renewal of springtime with the George Mason Dance Company as they perform inventive new dances by George Mason choreographers.

UMoves

UMoves is a varied, vibrant, and celebratory dance presentation featuring new works of art in motion by student choreographers from the UMD School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies.

Romeo & Juliet

The Washington Ballet presents Edwaard Liang's Romeo & Juliet, set to Prokofiev's score.

Made in Washington: A 50th Season Finale at Wolf Trap

For one night only, The Washington Ballet closes its landmark 50th Season at Wolf Trap with an evening of three contemporary works originally created in DC, set beneath the summer sky.