New York City Ballet has withdrawn from its scheduled six-day performances at the Kennedy Center, joining a growing list of prestigious arts organizations canceling engagements at the troubled Washington venue. The company was set to perform four shows in early June as part of a celebration honoring Native American dancer Maria Tallchief. The decision represents another blow to the center's programming and financial stability.

The cancellations come as the Kennedy Center undergoes significant upheaval under Trump's leadership, with the former president installing himself as board chairman and naming loyalists to key positions. In February, Trump announced the center would shut down for a two-year renovation, catching staff by surprise. The center has also lost the Washington National Opera as an affiliate, further diminishing its artistic offerings.

When premier arts organizations withdraw, they forfeit substantial performance fees that had been part of their business models. The ballet world has been divided on whether to perform at the politically charged venue, with Cincinnati Ballet and American Ballet Theater still appearing while others like San Francisco Ballet and now New York City Ballet have pulled out. These cancellations create significant revenue challenges for the center.