In This Story
George Mason University’s Center for the Arts announces the addition of a free performance by Doug Varone and Dancers on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 8 p.m. While admission is free, tickets are required through the Center for the Arts website.
The upcoming visit will continue the company’s tradition of engagement with the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) through masterclasses and additional learning opportunities for School of Dance students in conjunction with the free, public performance.
“We are thrilled to be able to add Doug Varone and Dancers to the Center for the Arts’ 2025–26 schedule, and even more excited to share this extraordinary company with our community free of charge,” said Rick Davis, dean of George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. “We have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with Doug Varone and Dancers, which has been marked by meaningful artistic exchange and student engagement over many years. This newly added performance reflects our continued commitment to providing a supportive home for modern dance in the region.”
Doug Varone and Dancers’ most recent visit to campus was in spring 2023 for a one-week residency that culminated in a performance at the Center for the Arts, featuring students from the George Mason University School of Dance alongside company dancers. During that residency, professionals worked closely with students to stage Varone’s acclaimed work, Double Octet, which was later presented as part of the Mason Dance Company Gala Concert in March 2023. The 2023 residency built on a 2017 collaboration, when Doug Varone and Dancers similarly presented a performance at the Center that incorporated George Mason students—underscoring the company’s commitment to mentorship, education, and artistic partnership.
“Our relationships with the Center for the Arts at George Mason University spans decades, and we are so appreciative of the opportunity to add this performance to their schedule so quickly after we canceled our performance at the Kennedy Center,” added Doug Varone, founder and artistic director of Doug Varone and Dancers. “We are excited to show our gratitude for the incredible outpouring of support nationwide, particularly through the crowdfunding efforts allowing us to make this free performance possible.”
Adding a special note of pride for the George Mason community, alumnus Dareon Blowe, a 2023 graduate of the School of Dance who worked with the company during their residency in his senior year, has recently joined Doug Varone and Dancers as a company member and will be among the performers appearing on April 25 at the Center for the Arts.
Doug Varone and Dancers brings the power, beauty, and humanity of dance to audiences worldwide. Touring nationally and internationally, the Company has built a rich legacy reaching audiences of all ages in urban and rural communities alike. It has been presented on major stages from Lincoln Center to London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Moscow’s Stanislavsky Theatre, Buenos Aires’ Teatro San Martin, and the Venice Biennale. Honored with 11 Bessie Awards, the Company is also recognized for its highly sought-after education and outreach programs, and also its deep commitment to engage with local communities. Doug Varone and Dancers celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year.
Learn more about the Doug Varone and Dancers performance on April 25, including how to secure free tickets on the performance website.