Zoe Harr

Whether it’s wagging your tail or exploring the great outdoors, it’s not too late to experience the Center’s Family Series with Mutts Gone Nuts or The Okee Dokee Brothers this April.

One of Germany’s premier orchestras, Bamberg Symphony, and virtuoso pianist Hélène Grimaud join forces to perform a program inspired by The New Yorker music critic and Pulitzer Prize finalist Alex Ross’s book Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music on April 27. The program explores and emerges music from Wagner with his German contemporizes, Schumann and Brahms, to create an evening of unforgettable classical music.

On April 13, the oldest modern dance ensemble in the country, Martha Graham Dance Company, returns to the Center with a program that celebrates the company’s 100th anniversary through iconic classics and new work. The spectacular program features pieces by choreographers Agnes de Mille, Jamar Roberts, and of course, Martha Graham, including a special performance by Mason School of Dance students.  

Right before Earth Day, Small Island Big Song presents a "jaw-dropping" (Billboard) concert experience at the Center for the Arts on April 20, combining music, spoken word, and stunning projections to showcase unique oceanic grooves and soulful island ballads, while shining a light on the devastating effects of climate crisis on our world’s oceans. As a Mason Artist-in-Residence, Small Island Big Song will also deeply engage with the community through a series of education and engagement programs.

Dedicated to performing every note ever composed by Frédéric Chopin, the internationally celebrated pianist Brian Ganz continues his quest in "Romantic Revolutionary" at the Center for the Arts on May 4. Maryland Theatre Guide notes that when attending a concert by Brian Ganz, audience members are sure to be enraptured by “one of the foremost pianists of his generation.”

On February 17, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham presented a thrilling collection of works by acclaimed choreographers, including its artistic director and MacArthur Genius Award-winning choreographer Kyle Abraham. As a Mason Artist-in-Residence, members of A.I.M by Kyle Abraham worked with Mason as well as communities within Manassas, Washington, D.C., and local communities in a variety of activities ranging from classroom visits to A.I.M Movement Workshops that brought participants up on their feet.

Any audience would be considered lucky when witnessing Trinity Irish Dance Company (TIDC) “sophisticated and commanding” (Los Angeles Times) performance that combines traditional Irish step dance with contemporary movement. On March 24, TIDC invites audiences to celebrate a belated St. Patrick’s Day with a captivating and joyous program that blends sheer percussive power with aerial grace.  

Honor Earth Day weekend with Small Island Big Song on April 20 for a moving musical experience that combines music, spoken word, and stunning projections to showcase the sounds of various island nations of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, while shining a light on the devastating effects of climate crisis on our world’s ocean.

During the month of March, women all over the world are recognized and celebrated for their achievements and talents, including those at the Center for the Arts. From an all-female, Asian-led creative team's reimagination of a classic opera to the oldest American modern dance ensemble led by an icon who revolutionized the form, spring at the Center features an inspirational line-up of women.

George Mason University’s School of Dance presents the 2024 Mason School of Dance Gala Concert on March 22 and 23, celebrating a rich array of diverse choreographic voices that span from the early days of modern dance to the freshest perspectives of today.