Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

06/12/2026

The Wortham Center family joins our community in remembering and honoring the life of Diana Gayle Wortham, whose vision, generosity, and dedication helped shape the cultural landscape of Western North Carolina.

For more than 30 years, Diana's steadfast support of the arts and commitment to community enrichment were instrumental in the growth and success of the Wortham Center. Her belief in the transformative power of the performing arts created opportunities for countless artists and audiences and helped establish a lasting legacy that continues to inspire us today.

We are deeply grateful for Diana's extraordinary contributions and the profound impact she made on our organization and our region. Her spirit, leadership, and passion for the arts will remain an enduring part of the Wortham Center's story.

Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and all who were touched by her remarkable life.

06/04/2026

Coming Tue, Jun 9: Tappy Hour!

Jump in at Wortham for an evening of rhythm, connection, and downright fun. Tappy Hour is a relaxed, welcoming event open to everyone—whether you’ve been tapping for years, are curious to try it out, or simply want to cheer on a friend. Connect with fellow tap enthusiasts, enjoy drinks and concessions, watch dancers of all levels in action, and bring your tap shoes to join in.

https://www.worthamarts.org/events/tappy-hour-june-2026/

05/11/2026

Sponsor Spotlight ✨ Mast General Store

"The Mast Store believes The Arts are essential for an attractive place to live and a thriving economy. The Arts create excitement and give solace, provide a beautiful aesthetic and shape a sense of place. We support The Arts in all our home communities and are pleased that the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts is our neighbor. Visit us - we are just across the street, and our aisles are filled with most everything you need for life!"

https://www.mastgeneralstore.com/

05/01/2026

Tomorrow (Sat, May 2)—Stewart/Owen Dance masterclass with Banning Bouldin of New Dialect.

Register online below. Drop-in registration also available tomorrow!

Led by Banning Bouldin, this class offers dancers the chance to dive deeply into the collaborative creative process tools Banning uses to develop new works.

04/30/2026

Get insights into the program of Stewart/Owen Dance + Guests as seen in their feature in The Laurel of Asheville—the visions of guest choreographers Eric Mullis and Banning Bouldin, along with Stewart/Owen's takes on their premieres of "Comfort Creatures" and "The Front."

Read here: https://www.worthamarts.org/stewart-owen-dance-2026-the-laurel-of-asheville/

Stewart/Owen Dance + Guests
May 1 & 2 at 7 pm

Featured story from The Laurel of Asheville, April 26, 2026.

04/29/2026

Saturday, May 2—Stewart/Owen Dance Masterclass

Join a contemporary dance masterclass in conjunction with the Stewart/Owen & Guests performance series. This class will be led by acclaimed choreographer Banning Bouldin, Artistic Director of the Nashville-based company New Dialect, whose work will be featured on the Stewart/Owen & Guests program.

Designed for intermediate to advanced dancers (15 & up), this class offers dancers the chance to dive deeply into the collaborative creative process tools Banning uses to develop new works. Dancers will explore generating detailed movement vocabularies and partnerships together and then use these skills to research scenes from Banning’s latest work, "Echo Mother."

🎟️ Register here:

Led by Banning Bouldin, this class offers dancers the chance to dive deeply into the collaborative creative process tools Banning uses to develop new works.

04/28/2026

Creative Arts Summer Camps at Wortham

⏰ Scholarship deadline is THIS THURSDAY Wortham’s Summer Camps give rising 1st–5th graders a place to imagine, create, and play through hands‑on arts experiences.

Apply for the Arts for All Kids Scholarship by April 30, then grab your spot for summer. Register online or call 828‑257‑4530 ext 1.

Details: https://l.feathr.co/summer-camps-2026

04/27/2026

This Friday & Saturday, May 1 & 2—Stewart/Owen Dance + Guests

Following their 2024 sold‑out run, Stewart/Owen Dance returns with an evening that brings together leading voices in contemporary Southern dance—featuring works by Eric Mullis, Banning Bouldin of Nashville's New Dialect, and two new original works from Stewart/Owen Dance.

After six years of creation, education, and performance at the Wortham Center, these shows are your last chance to see the company in its current iteration before it transitions into new, more flexible artistic and educational forms. Be part of this landmark moment for Stewart/Owen Dance.

Tickets available here: https://l.feathr.co/stewart-owen-dance-2026

04/21/2026

$15 ARTS RISING! tickets available for Wednesday evening's performance of "Yellow Bird Chase."

Wortham’s ARTS RISING! initiative—created after Hurricane Helene—helps to make the arts accessible with this special rush offer. To purchase: choose your seat, then select the “ArtsRising” price type online, or order through the Box Office during regular hours.

Details here: https://l.feathr.co/yellow-bird-chase

04/20/2026

Sponsor spotlight ✨ Ballet Conservatory of Asheville

Ballet Conservatory of Asheville (BCA) trains well-rounded dancers to achieve their full potential by combining rigorous technique classes, frequent master classes and significant performance opportunities. Their classes for children, teens and adults, and our celebrated pre-professional division include ballet, pointe, partnering, men’s class, tap, Broadway jazz, and contemporary/modern.

"We support the Wortham Center’s Dance Series so professional companies can inspire our dance students, and Asheville audiences continue to enjoy entertainment that broadens our cultural perspective."

"We are incredibly grateful for our 17-year partnership with the Wortham Center, as our home theatre. This venue not only provides our dancers with an exceptional performance space but also makes the arts accessible to WNC families by hosting an array of world-class professional performers from around the country and the world." —Angie and Chris Lynn, Artistic and Managing Directors

Learn more at balletconservatoryofasheville.com or follow on IG & Facebook