A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
We hear now from one of the artists who canceled their performances after President Trump's name was added to the Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts. Doug Varone is a choreographer and the director of Doug Varone & Dancers. He wrote on social media, quote, "we can no longer permit ourselves nor ask our audiences to step inside this once great institution." I asked Varone what led him to leave the Kennedy Center schedule.
DOUG VARONE: It's an institution and a living memorial to John F. Kennedy. An act in 1964 was set up to name this institution on his behalf. And as a president, he believed in the arts as kind of the beating heart of our nation. I believe that the level of artistry has dropped drastically since the administration change, and the employees that were responsible for the quality of the work at the center have all been let go.
MARTÍNEZ: And is that one of the reasons why you've objected so much? You had a couple of people that you were going to perform there to honor them, and now they're not there?
VARONE: When Jane Raleigh was let go, I really wanted to remain as part of the roster to honor her. She put an incredible amount of work into building a great dance series this year, which we were honored to be part of. But I definitely wanted the opportunity for the art to speak in the way that art can, that it has truth and it has power. That was the reason why we stayed so that we could bring that art. But the renaming for me has kind of pushed me off a cliff.
MARTÍNEZ: You mentioned Jane Raleigh along with Alicia Adams, both a couple of senior dance administrators at the Kennedy Center.
VARONE: That is correct.
MARTÍNEZ: And what about the argument, as well, that Richard Grenell has made - he's the Kennedy Center's president. He said last-minute cancellations prove that they were always unwilling to perform for everyone, even those they disagree with politically. Is there any truth to that statement?
VARONE: Absolutely not. Absolutely not. We're a touring company that tours all over this country, all over the world, actually, and very often being supported by the State Department by several different presidents of both parties. So we are very, very much used to putting our art out where everyone can see it. And, you know, I think that Mr. Grenell should look at what politicizing art all of a sudden looks like because I think it now looks like the Kennedy Center.
MARTÍNEZ: Is it possible, Doug, do you think, at this point, where we are, politically, to keep art and politics away from each other? Does it matter? Should it matter, or are they just linked now, no matter what?
VARONE: I think it always should be that the art and politics are separate, but, of course, they're always intertwined because artists are political, by nature. I mean, great art is - very often comes out of dangerous times. So, you know, it's a chicken-and-egg question, as far as I'm concerned. Yes, I do believe they should be separate. And the success of the Kennedy Center, you know, working in a bipartisan way, has been an example of that in a great way.
MARTÍNEZ: That is Doug Varone, director and choreographer for Doug Varone & Dancers. Doug, thank you very much.
VARONE: Great. Thanks an awful lot. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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