Soweto Gospel Choir celebrates the unique and inspirational power of African Gospel music. The Grammy Award-winning choir draws on the best talent from the many churches in and around Soweto in South Africa and tours all over the world, bringing their culture, traditions, and joy to thousands every year. “These absolutely thrilling singers need nothing but their voices to make dazzling music” – Billboard.   

Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities; traditional African dances; and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience. Performances are much more than dance shows; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor, and audience participation. The blend of technique, agility, and pure energy makes each performance unique and leaves the audience with their hearts pounding. 

A rapturous, fresh take on one of William Shakespeare’s most popular and widely performed plays, The Acting Company’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a captivating, coming-of-age story that will surprise and delight! In this fast-paced, crowd-pleasing comedy, a pair of young lovers flee to an enchanted forest where a troupe of amateur actors rehearse a play. With the help of a mystical flower, the fairy king and queen’s mischievous servant Puck creates chaos for these unsuspecting humans, leading to mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, and comical transformations. Bursting with mirth, music, magic, and mayhem, this uplifting tale of illusion and love comes to life with an electric cast of New York-based artists.

This dynamic storyteller breathes life into traditional and contemporary tales from African and African American traditions, weaving in music performed on traditional African instruments. Meticulously researched and told with flair, Alston’s stories transport young people to other cultures and other times and provide unforgettable lessons in history that translate easily into classroom connections. 

A “Classically American” dance company, the Dance Theatre of Harlem has grown into a multi-cultural dance institution with an extraordinary legacy of creative expression and artistic excellence. For over 50 years, Dance Theatre of Harlem has achieved unprecedented success, bringing innovative and bold new forms of artistic expression to audiences in New York City, across the country, and around the world. 

Pageantry and patriotism, spirit and spectacle, talent and teamwork combine in this awesome display of music and might – one of the highlights of the Virginia Arts Festival. Hundreds of performers from all over the world fill the Scope Arena – a truly spectacular springboard for classroom explorations of history, geography, and more! 

Dorrance Dance is an award-winning tap dance company based in New York City. Founded in 2011 by Artistic Director and 2015 MacArthur Fellow Michelle Dorrance, the company shares the incredibly dynamic range that tap dance has to offer through performance and education. Engaging with audiences on a musical and emotional level, Dorrance Dance shares the complex history and powerful legacy of this Black American art form throughout the country and the world.