In a dramatic shakeup at one of America’s most prestigious performing arts institutions, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., has fired its entire dance programming leadership and swiftly appointed a new director. The move, which unfolded over several tense days in August 2025, has ignited controversy, sparked allegations of retaliation, and raised fresh questions about the future of the arts under a new and combative administration.
On August 21, 2025, three key members of the Kennedy Center’s dance programming team—director Jane Raleigh and assistant managers Mallory Miller and Malik Burnett—were abruptly dismissed from their posts, according to NPR and the New York Times. The firings came without warning, and the employees were escorted from the building by security, as reported by the New York Times. This sudden move left the dance programming department leaderless, if only for a few days.
Just four days later, on August 25, the Kennedy Center announced the appointment of Stephen Nakagawa as its new Director of Dance Programming. Nakagawa, a choreographer and former dancer with The Washington Ballet, steps into the role at a particularly fraught moment. "It is a tremendous honor to join the Kennedy Center at such a pivotal moment for the performing arts," Nakagawa said in a statement published by 7News and BERITAJA. "The arts have always been at the heart of my life. I am eager to help inspire and uplift audiences, while ensuring dance continues to thrive as a vibrant and essential part of our culture and community."
Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell, a Trump appointee, was effusive in his praise for Nakagawa. "Stephen is a celebrated ballerino who has been trained by world-renowned artistic directors and was a company dancer right here in Washington, D.C. with The Washington Ballet. Stephen is passionate about dance education and finding ways to reach new audiences," Grenell said, as reported by 7News and BERITAJA. The Center has indicated that a new direction for dance programming will be announced soon, signaling more changes ahead.
The abrupt firings have not gone unnoticed, and the reasons behind them are hotly contested. Jane Raleigh, who had dedicated twelve years to the institution, publicly attributed her dismissal to her support for a unionization effort among Kennedy Center staff. In a statement posted to Facebook and shared with NPR and BERITAJA, Raleigh wrote, "In May of this year, my colleagues filed a petition to form a labor union. From the beginning, I have been publicly supportive of this effort as the staff were fighting to maintain the trust we have with our artists and audiences, maintain our free speech and artistic integrity, and maintain our ability to do the work we are committed to day in and day out." She continued, "While I was told my dismissal was due to a 'loss of confidence in my leadership,' I know this firing to be in retaliation for my public support of the ongoing union organization drive at the Center."
Raleigh’s tenure at the Kennedy Center was marked by ambitious programming that brought together classic ballet and contemporary dance, featuring renowned companies such as New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey Dance Company, and Martha Graham Dance Company. She also spearheaded commissions from local choreographers and helped maintain the Center’s beloved annual production of The Nutcracker.
According to the New York Times, the days leading up to Raleigh’s firing were tense. President Richard Grenell reportedly instructed her to focus on programming that was more "broadly appealing," citing the reality television show So You Think You Can Dance and the classic ballet Swan Lake as examples. The message was clear: move away from niche or avant-garde works and embrace content with mass appeal.
The firings and new appointment come amid a period of significant upheaval at the Kennedy Center. Since former President Donald Trump took control of the organization in February 2025, the institution has seen a wave of dismissals and resignations, with over 50 employees departing, according to NPR. Trump fired members of the board and installed his own loyalists, even naming himself board chair. The impact has been swift and sweeping, with the Center’s programming and leadership undergoing a near-total transformation.
Trump’s influence on the Kennedy Center has extended beyond personnel decisions. He has publicly criticized previous programming as "woke" and "terrible," accusing it of "rampant political propaganda, DEI, and inappropriate shows," though he has not provided specifics about which performances he found objectionable. Ironically, two musicals now being presented at the Center—Mrs. Doubtfire and Chicago—both feature drag performances, a genre Trump has previously targeted in his rhetoric.
Since the leadership change, several high-profile shows have been canceled, either by the Center itself or by artists who no longer wished to perform there. Most notably, the producers of Hamilton canceled their national tour stop at the Kennedy Center, and the producers of Eureka Day—which recently won a 2025 Tony Award—also withdrew from a planned engagement. The Center canceled a children’s musical, Finn, citing financial reasons, though the show’s creators said they were informed after Trump’s takeover.
The political drama has also spilled into the Center’s funding. Earlier in 2025, the Kennedy Center requested a significant increase in federal funding, seeking more than $250 million from Congress. The request passed as part of the so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill," but Senate Republicans voted to hold the funding increase unless the Center’s opera venue was renamed after First Lady Melania Trump, according to BERITAJA. Meanwhile, Trump himself has signaled a desire to rename the entire Kennedy Center after himself, stating from the Oval Office, "Some people refer to it as the ‘Trump Kennedy Center,’ but we’re not prepared to do that quite yet. Maybe in a week or so." There’s even a proposal from House Republicans to rename a Kennedy Center venue after Melania Trump.
Trump has also proposed eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), a move that has already led to the cancellation of grants to theaters nationwide, according to NPR. While the NEA still exists and remains under consideration for federal funding, the uncertainty has left many arts organizations on edge.
Despite the turmoil, the Kennedy Center is forging ahead with its signature events. Trump announced that he will host the 2026 Kennedy Center Honors, scheduled for December 7, 2025. This year’s honorees include Phantom of the Opera star Michael Crawford, Rocky writer and actor Sylvester Stallone, "I Will Survive" singer Gloria Gaynor, and the glam rock band Kiss. Tom Cruise was reportedly invited but declined due to scheduling conflicts. Trump has claimed to be "very involved" in selecting this year’s honorees and said he turned down "a couple of wokesters."
As the dust settles, the Kennedy Center stands at a crossroads. The institution’s future direction—both artistically and politically—remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the world of American performing arts is being reshaped before our eyes, and the reverberations will be felt far beyond the nation’s capital.
