Dance Exchange Competitors

The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, located on 17 acres overlooking the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., is America's living memorial to President Kennedy as well as the nation's busiest arts facility. The Center, which opened on September 8, 1971, continues its efforts to fulfill President Kennedy's vision by producing and presenting an unmatched variety of theater and musicals, dance and ballet, orchestral, chamber, jazz, popular, world, and folk music, and multimedia performances for all ages.

Ballet Hispánico New York is the nation's leading American Latino dance company, recognized by the Ford Foundation as one of America’s Cultural Treasures. For over five decades, it has championed artistic excellence through its three pillars: the Professional Company, The Ballet Hispánico School, and Community Arts Partnerships. Founded by Tina Ramirez in 1970, Ballet Hispánico quickly became a force in the dance world, blending classical ballet and contemporary techniques with Spanish and folkloric traditions. The Professional Company commissions works from leading and emerging choreographers, captivating audiences worldwide. In 2009, Eduardo Vilaro, a former Company dancer and founder of Luna Negra Dance Theater, became Artistic Director & CEO, expanding the organization’s impact. The Ballet Hispánico School, a beacon of excellence for more than 50 years, trains over 1,000 students annually and awards $450,000 in scholarships. Its curriculum fosters technical mastery, creativity, and cultural appreciation. Through Community Arts Partnerships, Ballet Hispánico brings dance education and performance to 30,000 people annually—75% from Title I schools. Since its founding, it has connected with 2.3 million audience members, awarded $5.5 million in scholarships, and served 750,000 New Yorkers. In 2024 alone, Ballet Hispánico reached 24 million people globally, performed 60 times nationwide for 38,000 attendees, and provided 1,100 free tickets to NYC performances. Ballet Hispánico continues to push the boundaries of dance, inspiring audiences with performances that honor tradition, embrace innovation, and redefine the future of the art form.

The Ailey organization's mission is to further the pioneering work of Alvin Ailey by establishing an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people. As important as its artistic and educational mission, the Ailey organization plays a social role, using the beauty and humanity of the African American heritage and other cultures to inspire and unite people of all races, ages and back grounds. Named “Cultural Ambassador to the World,” by a United States Congressional Resolution, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater numbers 31 of the most talented dancers in the world, and its diverse repertory is unparalleled in modern dance. A typical season includes engagements in its home base of New York City: 5 weeks each winter at New York City Center and 2 weeks each spring at Brooklyn Academy of Music, a 20 city United States tour and extensive international touring. Annually, nearly 500,000 people experience Ailey performances and programs. A multifaceted organization, the Ailey family also encompasses Ailey II, a second company dedicated to the development of young artists and community outreach; The Ailey School, a world-class dance academy which provides instruction to a diverse group of students aged 3-25; and Ailey Arts in Education and Community Programs which provide young people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds the opportunity to explore dance, build self-esteem and develop life skills.