“I find that, in Western North Carolina, the vast majority of people and institutions at least aspire to be welcoming,” says Blue Ridge Pride Executive Director Tina White.
Smart Bets: Mountain Heritage Day
Western Carolina University’s annual celebration of Southern Appalachian returns to campus on Sept. 28.
AAAC celebrates its 40th anniversary with the Ruby Ball
The Asheville Area Arts Council’s latest color ball spotlights grant recipients in South Slope and River Arts District venues.
Smart Bets: The Happiness System
The interactive performance by Grayson Morris, Daniele Martin and Edwin Salas runs Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at Revolve Gallery.
Community Heritage Festival celebrates an African American neighborhood
The East End/Valley Street Community Heritage Festival offers a celebration specific to that section of town and its past and present inhabitants. Organizers will recognize the oldest living residents of the neighborhood — one is a nonagenarian — and Aggie Jean Jackson, author of two books set in Asheville’s East End, will be on hand to discuss and sign copies of her works.
Smart Bets: Flyer in a Dark Chamber
The collaborative meditations on Lillith shares a bill with Okapi and Edwin Salas on Aug. 24 at BMCM+AC.
Smart Bets: Imagine
The fundraiser for Haywood Street Congregation’s fresco takes place Aug. 4 at Diana Wortham Theatre.
Empyrean Arts presents ‘Freakshow’
Empyrean Arts observes its fourth anniversary with Freakshow, a showcase of student performances (and birthday cake) on Saturday, July 27.
Smart Bets: Folkmoot International Festival
The 36th annual celebration of dance, music and culture from around the world runs July 18-28 across Western North Carolina.
Clan Destiny Circus debuts at Diana Wortham Theatre
The musical shares the story of misfit refugees and performers who band together for survival in a war-torn world.
Independence Day celebrations across WNC
Outdoor concerts, street dances, picnics with family (chosen or blood) and friends — all culminating in a fireworks spectacle — underscore the sweetness of a summer holiday.
Terpsicorps revisits a poignant topic with ‘Hunger’
Terpsicorps’ ‘Hunger’ returns to the stage Thursday-Saturday, June 20-22, at Diana Wortham Theater for the company’s 17th season. Its message is even more relevant today than when the ballet premiered in Asheville five years ago.
ACDT marks 40 years of dance in Asheville
The celebratory production, 40 years of Dance Theatre: A Retrospective (Looking back; Looking ahead), takes place at Diana Wortham Theatre on Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8.
A history of one of WNC’s most enduring social dance traditions
The Thursday, June 6, dance will be an Open Band night, led by Laura Light and Roger Gold with Tim Klein calling.
ABSfest returns to Asheville for its 13th year
“We all know burlesque is sexy, but for me, having a joyful pairing of sexy with comedy and other skills is really important,” Madam Onca says.
Smart Bets: Asheville Butoh Festival
The longest running butoh festival in the U.S. returns for its 13th edition, April 25-28 and May 2-5 at BeBe Theatre.
Variety show spotlights local artists and benefits Our VOICE
The second iteration is slated for Monday, April 22, at The Mothlight with Chris Rodrigues and Abby the Spoon Lady, Laura Blackley and Tina & Her Pony; Forty Fingers & a Missing Tooth; Hilliary Begley; Tom Peters; Josh McClure of Jus Twerk; Kathleen Hahn of Danceclub Asheville; Kevin Evans and Lauren Napoli of Aerial Space.
La Danza del Sur celebrates brown, black and queer communities
La Danza del Sur, coming up on Saturday, April 6, at The Mothlight, will be the largest Noche LatinX event to date, with a bigger venue and regional talent.
The ninth {Re}HAPPENING explores global sound and cross-genre collaboration
In the spirit of exploration, many of the {Re}HAPPENING’s concerts and exhibitions delve into and build off of the concepts engaged by mid-century Black Mountain College teachers and students.
Asheville’s growing zouk dance community
Many local zouk dancers are drawn from other scenes, including contra, blues/fusion and salsa.
Mexican dancer Tatiana Zugazagoitia in residency at ACDT
Zugazagoitia’s performance, along with ACDT co-choreography, is part of the local dance company’s celebration of its 40th year, and will be followed by a lasagna cook-off fundraiser.
