Kennedy Center terminates dance programming team
The Kennedy Center has fired its dance programming team. “Three individuals were terminated,” read a statement from Kennedy Center spokesperson Roma Daravi. “We will have an exciting announcement about the new direction for Dance programming soon.”
Programming staff help curate and manage the performances planned for the season. The Kennedy Center did not identify the three people who were fired, but Jane Raleigh is listed as Director of Dance Programming on the Kennedy Center’s website. NPR has reached out to Raleigh for comment.
It doesn’t appear that the firings will interrupt the Kennedy Center’s dance offerings for the immediate future. Kaimana Chee was contracted to be a curator at the Kennedy Center and lead free dance classes for the public, including three on Saturday. Chee said in an interview that those classes will proceed as scheduled. But he added that since President Trump took over the Center earlier this year, many of his fellow curators have opted to leave their contracts.
After naming himself the Kennedy Center’s Chairman, President Trump has taken major steps to reshape the cultural center. Just last week, Trump surprised Kennedy Center staff when he announced his picks for this year’s Kennedy Center Honors, including actor Sylvester Stallone, disco star Gloria Gaynor, and the rock band Kiss.
The change in leadership at the Kennedy Center also came with a bump in funds. The President’s “Big Beautiful Bill” came with a $257 million influx for the Center, six times what it usually gets from Congress annually.
Simultaneously, the Trump administration is conducting an audit of the Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C., after stating on Truth Social that museums all over the country “are, essentially, the last remaining segment of ‘WOKE.'”
R&B stars consider two ways to serve an audience
Two albums released the same day — Jill Scott's return from a long absence, and Brent Faiyaz's play for a mid-career pivot — offer opposing visions of artistic advancement in the genre.
Baby chicks link certain sounds with shapes, just like humans do
A surprising new study shows that baby chickens react the same way that humans do when tested for something called the "bouba-kiki effect," which has been linked to the emergence of language.
American Jordan Stolz speedskates to a third Olympic medal — silver this time
U.S. speedskater Jordan Stolz had a lot of hype accompanying him in these Winter Olympic Games. He's now got two gold medals, one silver, with one event to go.
Bad Bunny and J. Cole rule the pop charts
These days, the Super Bowl halftime show is a massive driver of the streaming, airplay and sales that fuel the Billboard charts. This week, Bad Bunny benefits from that influence.
Reporter’s notebook: My Olympic Lunar New Year
An NPR reporter covering the Olympics in Milan takes us on cultural side quests, to a hospitality house and a candy store.
Michael Pollan says AI may ‘think’ — but it will never be conscious
"Consciousness is under siege," says author Michael Pollan. His new book, A World Appears, explores consciousness on both a personal and technological level.
