Center Stage

Center Stage ran for eight seasons, beginning in 2012 and concluding in 2025. The program identified, prepared, and toured young, excellent, contemporary professional performing arts groups from abroad to diverse American communities. It was among the most successful programs to bring international performing artists into direct contact with people across a wide range of U.S. communities and to share these experiences globally. The program leveraged the power of the performing arts to transcend boundaries, encouraged people to dynamically engage with cultures other than their own, and delivered lasting impacts in the U.S. and abroad.  

Center Stage was initiated by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, produced by the New England Foundation for the Arts, with general management provided by Lisa Booth Management, inc. 

Center Stage:  

• Hosted 337 artists in 47 dance, music, and theatre ensembles from 17 countries: Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan, Tanzania, Ukraine, and Vietnam. 33 companies made their U.S. debut with Center Stage. 
• Traveled more than 202,000 cumulative miles, visiting 119 communities in 38 states and Washington, DC  
• Reached more than 196,000 people through 459 performances and 995 off stage activities 
• Hosted 18 journalists from, and reporting in, Argentina, Armenia, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Ukraine to share their experiences embedded with a Center Stage tour 
• Garnered tens of millions global media impressions (online and print) 
• Engaged millions more people around the globe through social media and online content 

For more information about the program and the ensembles who participated visit CenterStageUS.org.