Arts & Entertainment
SPRING ARTS 2019 DANCE: Pirouettes and arabesques
Dorsey Dance Company’s gender exploration among season’s dance highlights
The Washington Ballet presents “The Sleeping Beauty” through March 3 at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.). The classic tale is reimagined as a ballet with the familiar characters of Princess Aurora, her prince and her wicked fairy godmother Carabosse. Tickets range from $25-160. For more information, visit washingtonballet.org.
Dissonance Dance Theatre performs “Fluid” at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.) on Sunday, March 3 at 2:30 p.m. Set to the music of Ezio Bosso, the dance explores the themes of trust, lost, betrayal and love, through contemporary ballet inspired by physical theater and Afro-modern dance. Tickets are $30. For more details, visit atlasarts.org/events/fluid.
Akiko Kitamura presents “Cross Transit” at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) on March 19 at 7:30 p.m. “Cross Transit” focuses on Cambodia’s folk culture using movement choreographed by Kitamura. The work is inspired by artists Kitamura encountered during his field work in Cambodia provided by funding from the Japan Society. Tickets range from $29-39. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.
Bon Iver and TU Dance present “Come Through” to kick-off the Kennedy Center’s Direct Current series on Monday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m. The performance includes new music from Bon Iver bandmate Justin Vernon and new choreography from TU Dance. “Come Through” is a blend of modern dance and classical ballet with African-based movements.Tickets range from $49-189. For more details, visit kennedy-center.org.
The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) presents the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company’s “Analogy Trilogy” as part of its Direct Current series from March 28-30. The company will perform “Analogy/Dora: Tramontane” on Thursday, March 28. This show is based on an oral history that Jones received from mother-in-law, a French Jewish nurse and social worker, as she told him about her story of survival during World War II. “Analogy/Lance: Pretty aka the Escape Artist” is on Friday, March 29. This performance explores the struggles of Jones’s nephew Lance as he navigates the club culture and sex trade of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. “Analogy/Ambros: The Emigrant” is on Saturday, March 30 and is inspired by the novel “The Emigrant” by W.G. Seblad. Tickets range from $29-79. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.
The Washington Ballet presents its annual program “Three World Premieres” in Sidney Harmon Hall (610 F St., N.W.) April 3-7. Audiences can experience three, never-before-seen works by choreographers Dana Genshaft, Trey McIntyre and Ethan Stiefel. Tickets range from $25-100. For more information, visit washingtonballet.org.
Shen Yun returns to the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) April 17-21 to perform “5,000 Years of Civilization Reborn,” a performance that recreates the spirit of ancient China. The dance incorporates intricate costumes, a theatrical background and an orchestra to revisit various eras of China’s past up until the present. Tickets range from $80-250. For more details, visit kennedy-center.org.
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater brings its 60th anniversary tour to the Modell Lyric (140 W. Mt Royal Ave., Baltimore) April 23-24. In 1958, Alvin Ailey, who was gay, founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and since then the company has celebrated African-American heritage and other cultures in performances for an estimated 25 million people
On April 23, the dance company will perform “Lazarus” and “Revelations.” On April 24, the company will perform the works “Members Don’t Get Weary,” The Call,” “Pause,” “Juba” and “Revelations.” Tickets range from $36-46. For more information, visit modell-lyric.com.
Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance presents “Tracings” at the National Portrait Gallery (8th St., N.W. and F St., N.W.) on May 4 at 6 p.m. The work, choreographed by Burgess (who’s gay), examines the Korean planation experience in Hawaii. Admission is free. For more details, visit dtsbdc.org.
Arts & Entertainment
2026 Most Eligible LGBTQ Singles nominations
We are looking for the most eligible LGBTQ singles in the Washington, D.C. region.
Are you or a friend looking to find a little love in 2026? We are looking for the most eligible LGBTQ singles in the Washington, D.C. region. Nominate you or your friends until January 23rd using the form below or by clicking HERE.
Our most eligible singles will be announced online in February. View our 2025 singles HERE.
The Freddie’s Follies drag show was held at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va. on Saturday, Jan. 3. Performers included Monet Dupree, Michelle Livigne, Shirley Naytch, Gigi Paris Couture and Shenandoah.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Queer highlights of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Aunt Gladys, that ‘Heated Rivalry’ shoutout and more
Amy Madigan’s win in the supporting actress category puts her in serious contention to win the Oscar for ‘Weapons’
From Chelsea Handler shouting out Heated Rivalry in her opening monologue to Amy Madigan proving that horror performances can (and should) be taken seriously, the Critics Choice Awards provided plenty of iconic moments for queer movie fans to celebrate on the long road to Oscar night.
Handler kicked off the ceremony by recapping the biggest moments in pop culture last year, from Wicked: For Good to Sinners. She also made room to joke about the surprise hit TV sensation on everyone’s minds: “Shoutout to Heated Rivalry. Everyone loves it! Gay men love it, women love it, straight men who say they aren’t gay but work out at Equinox love it!”
The back-to-back wins for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Amy Madigan in Weapons are notable, given the horror bias that awards voters typically have. Aunt Gladys instantly became a pop culture phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community when Zach Cregger’s hit horror comedy released in August, but the thought that Madigan could be a serious awards contender for such a fun, out-there performance seemed improbable to most months ago. Now, considering the sheer amount of critics’ attention she’s received over the past month, there’s no denying she’s in the running for the Oscar.
“I really wasn’t expecting all of this because I thought people would like the movie, and I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys! I mean, it’s crazy,” Madigan said during her acceptance speech. “I get [sent] makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon also, which I didn’t go too deep into that one.”
Over on the TV side, Rhea Seehorn won in the incredibly competitive best actress in a drama series category for her acclaimed performance as Carol in Pluribus, beating out the likes of Emmy winner Britt Lower for Severance, Carrie Coon for The White Lotus, and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Pluribus, which was created by Breaking Bad’s showrunner Vince Gilligan, has been celebrated by audiences for its rich exploration of queer trauma and conversion therapy.
Jean Smart was Hack’s only win of the night, as Hannah Einbinder couldn’t repeat her Emmy victory in the supporting actress in a comedy series category against Janelle James, who nabbed a trophy for Abbott Elementary. Hacks lost the best comedy series award to The Studio, as it did at the Emmys in September. And in the limited series category, Erin Doherty repeated her Emmy success in supporting actress, joining in yet another Adolescence awards sweep.
As Oscar fans speculate on what these Critics Choice wins mean for future ceremonies, we have next week’s Golden Globes ceremony to look forward to on Jan. 11.
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