Connecting Artists and Audiences
Each year, the Center for the Arts invites several artists and ensembles with distinctive and innovative artistic voices to make Mason their home for a residency.
Each Mason Artist-in-Residence will participate in a variety of activities, designed to engage and inspire the diverse audiences both on and off the campus of George Mason University. Learn more about the work and impact of recent Mason Artists-in-Residence.
2024–25 Mason Artists-in-Residence
The following artists have been chosen to participate in the Mason Artist-in-Residence program in conjunction with their 2024–25 Center for the Arts season performances. In addition to their respective performances, the ensembles will lead a variety of events, classes, and discussions across the Mason campus and wider community.
Ballet Hispánico
Saturday, October 5 at 8 p.m.
Recognized as one of America’s cultural treasures, Ballet Hispánico celebrates the multifaceted Hispanic diasporas through vibrant dance in this Hispanic Heritage Month performance. Founded by dance luminary and National Medal of Arts recipient Tina Ramirez in 1970, the company works to uplift the intersection of Hispanic cultures, innovatively breaking down boundaries and stereotypes. “Everything about Ballet Hispánico is smashingly theatrical—from the stunning individuality and flamboyant, expressive style of its dancers to its use of sets, lighting, costumes and sound” (Chicago Sun-Times). This program features Sombrerísimo by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, inspired by the surrealist world of Belgian painter René Magritte; Buscando a Juan by Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico, inspired by the life of Juan de Pareja, the Afro-Hispanic painter who was enslaved in Spanish painter Diego Velázquez's studio for over two decades before becoming an artist in his own right; and Club Havana by Pedro Ruiz, which transports audiences through classic Cuban culture with the intoxicating rhythms of conga, rumba, mambo, and cha-cha-chá.
Silkroad Ensemble
Saturday, January 25 at 8 p.m.
Returning for their third year as a Mason Artist-in-Residence, GRAMMY-winning Silkroad Ensemble performs the world premiere of its newest program, Percussion All-Stars, showcasing virtuoso performances by the elite group of percussionists within the ensemble. Through story, rhythm, and melody, experience a rich tapestry of music traditions from around the world, including India, Africa, Japan, Cuba, the Middle East, and the Americas. The performance will feature several original compositions by members of the Silkroad Ensemble, including Sandeep Das (India), Kaoru Watanabe (Japan), Haruka Fujii (Japan), and Balla Kouyate (Mali), and include commissions by celebrated composers Steve Reich and Caroline Shaw. Silkroad Ensemble is a GRAMMY Award-winning music collective formed by Yo-Yo Ma and now led by Pulitzer Prize winning multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens.
The Silkroad Ensemble residency is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Versa-Style Street Dance Company
Saturday, February 15 at 8 p.m.
“A stylistic smorgasbord” (New Yorker),Versa-Style Street Dance Company immerses its audience in the electrifying world of Hip Hop. To mark its 20th anniversary, the troupe will present Tribute: Guardians of Street Dance, an evening-length, multidisciplinary work that shines a light on West Coast Hip Hop and street dance culture, while also honoring influential artists such as Rennie Harris, the late Stephen “Twitch” Boss, and Marjory Smarth. Founded by Los Angeles natives and Co-Artistic Directors Jackie Lopez (a.k.a. Miss Funk) and Leigh Foaad (a.k.a. Breeze-lee), Versa-Style has become a staple in the Los Angeles dance community. Named “Los Angeles’ Best Dance Troupe for Hip Hop Empowerment” by LA Weekly, Versa-Style is recognized for its “uplifting and joyous” (Maryland Theatre Guide) performances that will have its audience grooving and moving.
We believe in the power of the Arts to create community, and look forward to welcoming these incredible artists this season! More information about how you can engage with the Mason Artists-in-Residence will be posted here and on the artists’ event webpages as it becomes available.
The Mason Artist-in-Residence program is supported in part by the Wendy Frieman and David Johnson Fund.
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