The San Francisco Ballet appears to have withdrawn from its planned performances at the Kennedy Center this spring, quietly removing the engagement from its website amid ongoing controversy surrounding the Washington arts institution.
The company had been scheduled to present “Mere Mortals,” its contemporary production inspired by the myth of Pandora and artificial intelligence, at the Kennedy Center Opera House from May 27 through 31.
As of Saturday, the production no longer appears on the Ballet’s touring page, and a direct link to the Kennedy Center engagement on the organization’s website returns a 404 error message. The performances, however, remain listed on the Kennedy Center’s website.
Workers in December update signage at the Kennedy Center, which was renamed the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. (Jim Watson/Tribune News Service)
Representatives for the San Francisco Ballet did not respond to requests for comment about the change. The Kennedy Center has not publicly commented.
The apparent withdrawal follows weeks of mounting pressure on the Ballet to cancel the engagement after President Donald Trump reshaped the Kennedy Center’s leadership, installed himself as chairman and approved renaming the institution the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.
A Change.org petition urging the Ballet to pull out of the Washington run surpassed 7,400 signatures in recent weeks. Supporters argued that performing at the venue risked aligning the company with what they described as a politicized institution.
The controversy intensified this month when Trump announced plans to close the Kennedy Center for roughly two years beginning in July for what he called “Construction, Revitalization, and Complete Rebuilding.”
The proposed shutdown has created uncertainty for resident groups, including the National Symphony Orchestra, whose musicians told NBC News they were caught off guard by the announcement.
San Francisco Ballet dancers dance the finale from “The Stars and Stripes Forever” during the performance at the Opening Night Gala at the War Memorial Opera House in January 2026. The ballet has removed its Kennedy Center engagement from its touring page, signaling a possible withdrawal amid ongoing controversy. (Laura Morton/For the S.F. Chronicle)
The San Francisco Ballet first announced its Kennedy Center engagement last year as part of its 2026 touring plans. “Mere Mortals,” commissioned by Artistic Director Tamara Rojo, premiered in San Francisco in 2024 and was billed as a major touring vehicle for the company.
It remains unclear when the Ballet’s board made its decision or whether contracts with the Kennedy Center have been formally terminated. Ticketing information for the performances is still visible on the Kennedy Center’s website.
If confirmed, the withdrawal would mark one of the most prominent institutional departures from the Kennedy Center since the leadership overhaul and rebranding, which have prompted cancellations from artists and organizations across disciplines.
The turbulence has extended beyond programming.
This week, Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell said the institution’s annual honors ceremony would move forward under a new name – the “Trump Kennedy Center Honors” – and would be held at an alternative venue during the planned two-year closure.
This article originally published at San Francisco Ballet pulls Kennedy Center dates from tour schedule.