Arts & Entertainment
‘Fire and Air’
Classical ballet, modern dance, Cherry weekend and more among season’s dance highlights
Dustin Kimball, left, and Junichi Fukada of Bowen McCauley Dance. (Photo by Jeff Malet; courtesy the company)
Washington Ballet, led by gay artistic director Septime Webre, is considered one the country’s finest ballet companies. This spring the company will put on several performances.
From March 5-9, the Ballet will perform “British Invasion: the Beatles and the Rolling Stones” at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater (2700 F St., N.W.). This three-piece production includes Trey McIntyre’s “A Day In the Life,” Christopher Bruce’s “Rooster” and “There Where She Loved.” Tickets start at $25 and are available at kennedy-center.org.
From April 16-25, the company’s “Peter Pan” will take audiences on a highflying adventure to Neverland. This coming-of-age story is told through the vibrant and powerful dances choreographed by Webre. Tickets range from $25-125 and can be purchased at kennedy-center.org.
And on April 23-25, for just three performances, the Washington Ballet will be presenting “Tour-de-Force,” a program that contains provocative and engaging classical and contemporary ballets. The centerpiece of the evening is George Balanchine’s “Themes and Variations,” which evokes the great period in classical dance where Russian Ballet flourished. Tickets are only available to subscribers and start at $35.
Bowen McCauley Dance performs at Atlas Intersections Festival today at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.). The performance will explore the environment’s influence in movement in “Afoot in Vienna” and “Fire and Air.” It also includes a re-imagination of Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra” with a rare performance by Lucy Bowen McCauley herself. To purchase tickets, visit atlasarts.org.
The Atlas Intersections Festival ends Saturday. Intersections allows onlookers and artists to discover the collaborative energy of audiences and artists with eight days of boundary-crossing performances.
From April 1-6, the New York City Ballet performs Balanchine’s dazzling full-length piece “Jewels” at the Kennedy Center Opera House (2700 F St., N.W.). Tickets are on sale now and cost $25-95. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit kennedy-center.org.
On April 19 starting at 1 p.m., the gay-led Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company performs a new work at the National Portrait Gallery (8th and F streets, N.W.) where this company maintains its residency and performs regularly. It’s free.
Sean Dorsey Dance performs May 9-10 at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier, Md., with a work called “Secret History of Love,” which reveals the ways that LGBT individuals found love and happiness in decades past. This work by transgender dance director is packed with full throttle dancing, riveting storytelling and truly reveals the strength of the human heart. Tickets are $22.
On May 16-17, Jessica Lang Dance premieres a new work at the Kennedy Center along with the National Symphony Orchestra (2700 F St., N.W.). For tickets visit kennedy-center.org.
Gay choreographer Kyle Abraham and his company Abraham.In.Motion will perform “Live: The Realest MC” on May 17-18 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.). Abraham, who was awarded a 2013 MacArthur Genius Award, has created a production that explores what it means to be a real boy a la Pinocchio. Tickets are $31.50 in advance or $35.50 at the door. Visit atlas arts.org for details.
The Bolshoi Ballet performst at the Kennedy Center May 20-25 with “Giselle,” a powerful piece that deals with betrayal, physical fragility and spiritual strength. Tickets are available by visiting kennedy-center.org.
From June 9-20, gay-helmed Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company partners with Georgetown Day School to allow advanced and intermediate dancers in seventh through 11th grades to have one-on-one instruction with members of the company.
Dance Place (3225 8th St., N.E.) is always the center of dance activity in Washington with performances every weekend as well as dance classes for adults and children.
In radically different dance news, the Chippendales male dance revue — geared to straight women but, like Playgirl, long a gay guilty pleasure — performs March 27 at 9 p.m. at the Fillmore in Silver Spring (8656 Colesville Rd.). Tickets are $25-35 and available at fillmoresilverspring.com.
And D.C.’s trademark benefit circuit party Cherry is the weekend of April 4-6 with DJs Eddie Elias, Paulo, Alain Jackinsky, Joe Gauthreaux, TWiN and Mike Reimer at the various locations throughout the weekend such as Cobalt and Town. This year’s event is dubbed “Metamorphosis.” Visit cherryfund.org for full details.
Friday, March 27
Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Dupont Italian Kitchen. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome and there’ll be card and board games on hand. Feel free to bring your own games to share. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected].
Saturday, March 28
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. It’s more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and invest in something meaningful, and enjoy delicious food, genuine laughter, and conversations that spark connection and inspiration. For more details, visit the Center’s website.
Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black Lesbian. For more details, email [email protected].
Monday, March 30
“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).
“Tea Time! A Local DC Drag Comedy Show” will be at 3 p.m. at Spark Social. This is a live drag comedy show where drag legends TrevHER & Tiara Missou Sidora host spill all the tea in the DMV. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Tuesday, March 31
Visibili-TEA Party will be at 6 p.m. at Restoration Station. Guests are encouraged to come sip, celebrate, and shine together. This event is a Trans Day of Visibility celebration and a special collaboration between Auntie’s Home and Damien Ministries. This is a boozy tea party with intention and the dress code reflects the vibe. More details are available on Eventbrite.
Wednesday, March 1
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Thursday, April 2
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Unconventional Diner will host “Cherry Blossom Drag Bingo Party” on Friday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m.
Guests will be treated to an unforgettable night of drag performances, bingo, food and drink and prizes. Highlights of the evening include themed cocktails, drag performances and bingo prizes.
Tickets can be secured via Resy.
Sports
New IOC policy bans trans women from Olympics
New regulation to be in effect at 2028 summer games in Los Angeles
The International Olympic Committee on Thursday announced it will not allow transgender women from competing in female events at the Olympics.
“For all disciplines on the Sports Program of an IOC event, including individual and team sports, eligibility for any Female Category is limited to biological females,” reads the new policy.
The policy states “eligibility for the Female Category is to be determined in the first instance by SRY Gene screening to detect the absence or presence of the SRY Gene.”
“On the basis of the scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the SRY (sex-determining Region Y) Gene is fixed throughout life and represents highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced or will experience male sex development,” it reads. “Furthermore, the IOC considers that SRY Gene screening via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample is unintrusive compared to other possible methods. Athletes who screen negative for the SRY gene permanently satisfy this policy’s eligibility criteria for competition in the Female Category.”
The policy states the test “will be a once-in-a-lifetime test” unless “there is reason to believe a negative reading is in error.”
The new regulation will be in place for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
“I understand that this a very sensitive topic,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry on Thursday in a video. “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition.”
“The policy that we have announced is based on science and it has been led by medical experts with the best interests of athletes at its heart. The scientific evidence is very clear: male chromosomes give performance advances in sport that rely on strength, power, or endurance,” she added. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”
(Video courtesy of the IOC)
Laurel Hubbard, a weightlifter from New Zealand, in 2021 became the first trans woman to compete at the Olympics.
Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Khelif later sued JK Rowling and Elon Musk for cyberstalking after they questioned her gender identity.
Ellis Lundholm, a mogul skier from Sweden, this year became the first openly trans athlete to compete in any Winter Olympics when he participated in Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.
President Donald Trump in February 2025 issued an executive order that bans trans women and girls from female sports teams in the U.S.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee last July banned trans women from competing in female sporting events. Republican lawmakers have demanded the IOC ban trans athletes from women’s athletic competitions.
“I’m grateful the Olympics finally embraced the common sense policy that women’s sports are for women, not for men,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on X.
An IOC spokesperson on Thursday referred the Washington Blade to the press release that announced the new policy.
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