By Trendsetter Tribune 
The Martha Graham Dance Company has canceled its Kennedy Center performance, joining other artists boycotting the venue after Donald Trump’s name was unofficially added to the building.
America’s oldest modern dance troupe, the Martha Graham Dance Company, has canceled its April performance at the Kennedy Center, citing no specific reason. The cancellation comes amid a wave of withdrawals from the Center following the controversial addition of Donald Trump’s name to the venue, raising concerns about political influence over the nation’s premier performing arts institution.
The cancellation and the Trump controversy
In a statement on Friday, the company said:
“The Martha Graham Dance Company regrets that we are unable to perform at the Kennedy Center in April. We hope to perform at the center in the future.”
The troupe’s decision joins a growing list of artists and ensembles canceling appearances since Dec. 19, 2025, when Trump bypassed Congress and had a construction team add his name to the building. The Kennedy Center’s board, hand-picked by Trump, approved the change, though an official renaming requires Congressional approval. Critics argue that the building’s new title—“The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts”—inappropriately implies a memorial to a living former president.
Other performers who have pulled out since the unofficial name change include Grammy-winning bluegrass artist Béla Fleck, Mexican songwriter Sonia De Los Santos, and the Washington National Opera.
Martha Graham Dance Company background
Founded in 1926, the Martha Graham Dance Company has been a cornerstone of American modern dance. It has ties to the Trump family, with First Lady Melania Trump having been named an honorary chairwoman in 2005. The troupe has toured nationally and internationally, and its Kennedy Center performance was part of its centennial nationwide tour.
Kennedy Center leadership and programming changes
The Kennedy Center has undergone a dramatic shift under Trump’s second administration, targeting what leadership calls “wokeness” in its dance line-up. In August 2025, the Center appointed Stephen Nakagawa as its new director of dance and programming, after he wrote to Kennedy Center president Richard Grennell expressing concerns over “leftist ideologies” in companies like the Washington Ballet.
Grennell previously pushed for programming that resembled reality competition shows, such as So You Think You Can Dance?, before Nakagawa’s appointment. Critics argue these changes signal a broader effort to reshape the Center’s artistic vision.
Implications for the arts community
The cancellations highlight growing unease in the performing arts world over the politicization of major cultural institutions. Historically, the Kennedy Center has hosted companies such as American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, and contemporary modern dance productions. Recent programming shifts, combined with the Trump name controversy, have prompted artists to reconsider participation.
Conclusion
The Martha Graham Dance Company’s withdrawal from the Kennedy Center underscores a cultural and political divide affecting America’s premier arts venues. As more performers weigh their participation, the controversy may continue to shape programming decisions and public perception of the Center for years to come.