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PRESS RELEASEFOR RELEASE:Friday, May 14, 2021The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtsannouncesThe Millennium Stage Summer Schedule19 Free Mini-Festival Weekends at the REACHCelebrating the Vibrant Arts & Culture of the Washington, D.C. Region(WASHINGTON)—Millennium Stage returns to the Kennedy Center with weekly, free, outdoorperformance experiences curated by artists and organizations from around the Washingtonmetropolitan area. Thursday-Saturday, May 27-October 2, audiences will enjoy films, liveperformances, arts vendors, dance, and yoga lessons on The REACH plaza, with food and drinksfrom Victura Park, the Center’s family-friendly outdoor wine and food garden. These events willsafely welcome the public back to the Kennedy Center to enjoy a showcase of the city’s incredibleartists and to celebrate the legacy, vibrancy, and vitality of our communities.Each weekend brings a unique focus and is curated in collaboration with partner organizationsthroughout the region. Collaborations include United Nations High Commission for Refugees,National Theater for the Deaf, Smithsonian Asian American Center, Creative Nomads,SAMASAMA, D.C. Legendary Musicians, Step Afrika!, members of the Drag community, as well asinternal partners, the Center’s Culture Caucus, and more.For schedule updates and reservations, visit the Kennedy Center website. Advance registration isrequired and will be available the Friday prior beginning at 10 a.m. ET. Registration does notguarantee entry to the event space. Access is first come, first served and may be restricted due tocapacity. A schedule of mini-festival weekends is below, including a complete schedule for the first twoweekends.May 27–29: SAMASAMA: All Together Now!SAMASAMA is partnering with The Kennedy Center for the re-opening weekend of TheREACH and filled with multicultural programs for all generations. SAMASAMA, inspired bythe literal Tagalog meaning “all together,” celebrates Asian American Pacific Islandernarratives and heritage through art and community. Founded in 2016, SAMASAMA has grownfrom a collective art show to developing programs and events that push boundaries through
art, food, and conversation and that develop a greater understanding between allcommunities.Thursday, May 275:30-8 p.m.: Arts Market on the River Terrace5:30 p.m.: DJ set by Les the DJSunset: Don't Think I've Forgotten Film Screening on the Video WallFriday, May 285:30-9 p.m.: Arts Market on the River Terrace6 & 8 p.m.: Iza Flow on the main stage7 p.m.: DJ set by Les the DJSaturday, May 2910 a.m.-3 p.m.: Yoga at the REACH and Dance Sanctuaries (separate registrationrequired)11 a.m.-8 p.m.: Arts Market on the River Terrace5:30 & 7 p.m.: DJ set by Shuno Re!6 & 8 p.m.: Iza Flow on the main stageJune 3–5: The Wig Party: A Capital Drag FestivalThe Kennedy Center celebrates the talent and history of the District’s legendary Dragcommunity with a festival curated by Pussy Noir, Don Burke, and JaxKnife Complex of theD.C. drag community. The weekend will feature iconic local DJs, screenings of queer worksfrom regional filmmakers, live music, and, of course, some of the most monumen tal Drag actsin the Nation’s Capital.Thursday, June 35:30-8 p.m: Arts Market on the River Terrace5:30 p.m.: DJ set with DJ Diyanna Monet (Diyanna Burton)Sundown: Short films by local queer filmmakers on the Video WallFriday, June 45:30-9 p.m.: Arts Market on the River Terrace5:30 & 9p.m.: DJ sets with DJ Lemz (Steve Lemmerman)7:30 p.m.: Main stage performanceSaturday, June 510 a.m.-3 p.m.: Yoga at the REACH and Dance Sanctuaries (separate registrationrequired)11 a.m.-8 p.m.: Arts Market on the River Terrace4:30 p.m.: Panel Discussion5:30 p.m.: DJ set with DJ Divonne
7 p.m.: Main stage performance9 p.m.: DJ set with DJ WessJune 10–12: Kennedy Center Youth Council: The Colors of Our YearSince the pandemic turned the world upside down in March 2020, teens have enduredsignificant distress and disruption in their lives, while also exhibiting significant growth,perseverance, and resiliency. The Kennedy Center Youth Council, an extraordinaryassemblage of artistic and civic leaders, presents a weekend representing the colors of theiryear. Through spoken word, music, visual art, movement and film, youth artists will share thebreadth and beauty of the year they’ve experienced.June 17–19: World Refugee Day: Together We Heal, Learn, and ShineFor World Refugee Day, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in partnership with the KennedyCenter and One Journey Festival, presents live music featuring Mélat and Cesar Orozco &Kamarata Jazz. This weekend celebrates the courage and resilience of people who have beenforced to flee their homes due to war, persecution, and violence. Despite the challenges ofthe pandemic, refugees and displaced people have stepped up and continue to contribute to astronger, safer, and more vibrant world. One Journey is a growing coalition that aims tochange the narrative about refugees by celebrating their talents and stories through thecommon languages of humanity: music, dance, storytelling, art, technology, food, and sports.This mission of celebration and connection comes to the REACH with a global marketplace,film screening, and dance and yoga instruction, all curated for three days of fun andinspiration.June 24–26: Jalsa REMIXThe Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center joins with the Kennedy Center for a festivalfilled with celebratory sounds, storytelling, and dance affirming the creativity, joy, andresilience of our AAPI and Global South diaspora communities in the DMV. Established in1997, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center brings history, art and culture todiverse audiences through innovative museum experiences and digital initiatives throughoutthe United States and abroad.July 1–3: Relax Relate ReleaseRelax Relate Release is a three-day explosion of joy and play that brings together the variouselements of stress-free gallivanting and creativity. Powered by three Black women curators—Creative Nomads, Goldie Patrick, and LiL SoSo Productions—this mini-festival will bringtogether film, art, literature, movement, and music.July 8–10: Wingapo! Welcome to the Native American Dance CircleThe Intertribal Native American Dance Circle returns to the REACH at the Kennedy Center withperformances and interactive activities that will showcase Indigenous culture through music,
film, dance, storytelling, an artists’ market and more. Special multigenerational activities will befeatured during the day on Saturday, July 10.July 15–17: ¡Viva Cultura!: A Celebration of Latinx Arts and CultureThe League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Arlington, VA Council 4613 invitesaudiences to dance to the beat of reggateon with live music performances; move with the rhythmof salsa, merengue and bachata dance classes; and explore a picturesque Artesanias market for allages.July 22–24: Adobo GiganteThe DMV’s authentic Afro-Latinx experience, Adobo, returns to the Kennedy Center with amidsummer’s weekend of programming. Adobo Gigante will include live performances from someof the top local artists in D.C., as well as DJ sets from Pedro Night, DJ Bembona, DJ Alizay, DJ Bo,and more.July 29–31: D.C. Legendary Musicians: From Blues to Jazz to Go-GoIn collaboration with D.C. Legendary Musicians, whose mission is to preserve, protect, andpromote the artistic legacy, contributions, and well-being of Washington, D.C.’s professionalmusicians, the Kennedy Center presents a block party made for the Native Washingtoniansfeaturing hand dance, soul, the history of voting, and more.August 5–7: Raga at the REACHRaga at the REACH is a three-day festival focused on presenting the vibrant culture and heritage ofIndia through live music, dance, film, and local arts vendors. Presented by District of Raga incollaboration with the Kennedy Center.August 12–14: Step Afrika! at the Kennedy CenterStep Afrika!, the world’s first professional company dedicated to the art form of stepping hits thestage for the first time since March 2020. Audiences are invited to join the celebrated dancecompany along with amazing step teams and guest artists for performances as well as classes instepping, the South African gumboot dance, and more.August 19–21: Preserving Go-Go from the Old School to the New SchoolDon’t Mute D.C.’s signature mix of artistry and advocacy for Go-Go—D.C.’s “official music”—comes to the REACH. Fifty years before Glenn Close was doing “Da Butt” at the Oscars , a groupof middle school kids from Southeast Washington was forming the legendary band ExperienceUnlimited, aka EU. The weekend will include live performances and activities, a panel discussionof the “EU @ 50 Project” celebrating five decades of crank, and a screening of the reality seriesMake Go-Go 4Eva which lays foundation of the rich history of go-go music in Washington, D.C.while passing the torch to the next generation of innovators.
August 26–28: On Deck: Women Shredding through the BoundariesAn all-inclusive festival featuring women in action sports and music. Visitors are invited to jointhe Kennedy Center, sPaCyClOuD, and Women in Jazz, in carving out space in theunconventional arenas of jazz and skateboarding for a more equal future together.September 2–4: Field Day: A Three-Day Festival for Emerging Voices44:21 and Shout Mouse Press team up to celebrate emerging storytellers. Events include a shortfilm festival featuring the work of young filmmakers, a reading featuring teen authors around theDMV, a writing workshop, and a community open mic. Audiences can also enjoy live music, buyart from local artists, and buy books from local authors.September 9–11: The John F. Kennedy Center at 50A weekend-long festival marking the beginning of the Kennedy Center's 50th anniversary with aweekend pointing us towards the future.September 16–18: National Dance DayPresented in partnership with the Kennedy Center, American Dance Movement, andCongresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, National Dance Day celebrates the joy of dance andmovement. For its 12th exciting year, National Dance Day will be celebrated over an entireweekend of free performances, interactive dance routines and lessons, live music, and more fromlocal D.C. organizations.September 23–25: Deaf Culture and Arts FestivalVisionaries of the Creative Arts (VOCA) and National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) partner inhosting a three-day community event, Deaf Culture & Arts Festival, to celebrate Deaf culturethrough the arts. Deaf Culture & Arts Festival includes outdoor activities and performanceshighlighting Deaf artists while showcasing their unique talents in the creative arts: music, ASLpoetry/storytelling, visual arts, dance, film, theater, and more.September 30–October 2: The Mumbo ConnectionThe Mumbo Connection explores the true heartbeat of D.C.'s culture through socially engaged art,gogo music, theater, murals, and more. This community activation aims to bring the families ofD.C. and the DMV together to celebrate native life, Black and brown liberation, create together,and experience art and stories from the community. This is freedom—the real D.C.—The MumboConnection.A full listing of our generous sponsors can be found online.###PRESS CONTACT
Brendan PadgettBEPadgett@Kennedy-Center.org
The Millennium Stage Summer Schedule 19 Free Mini-Festival Weekends at the REACH Celebrating the Vibrant Arts & Culture of the Washington, D.C. Region (WASHINGTON)—Millennium Stage returns to the Kennedy Center with weekly, free, outdoor . Center and One Journey Festival, presents live music featuring Mélat and Cesar Orozco & Kamarata Jazz .
