Bring the family (along with blankets and lawn chairs) for an afternoon of dance on the DIA’s lawn. Featuring performances by local, national, and international talent curated for family audiences, Summer Stage promises to be a festival highlight for all ages.

Saturday will include a College Fair from 2:30–4:00 p.m. for aspiring dancers interested in pursuing dance careers after high school. Dancers from these colleges will also perform during the show.

Sunday will feature family-friendly outdoor activities to get everyone moving!

Dance City Festival (DCF) is an annual community building event that celebrates dance in its various forms and disciplines. Now in its thirteenth year in Detroit, and first year in Chicago and New York, DCF-Detroit includes performances, master classes, and networking opportunities all held in the vibrant city of Detroit at the festival’s central venue, Detroit Institute of Arts. Our mission is to educate diverse audiences about the impact of dance, provide opportunities for artists to share their work, and create an artistic network linking Detroit, the greater US, and the world!

On the DIA’s Woodward Plaza

For full festival schedule visit their website.

Sponsored by Dance City Festival and ArtLab J

Dance on Screen provides a space for dance filmmakers to present their work. Presented in the Marvin and Betty Danto Lecture Hall, dance on screen highlights local, national, and international dance films in diverse styles of dance. (90 min.)

Dance City Festival (DCF) is an annual community building event that celebrates dance in its various forms and disciplines. Now in its thirteenth year in Detroit, and first year in Chicago and New York, DCF-Detroit includes performances, master classes, and networking opportunities all held in the vibrant city of Detroit at the festival’s central venue, Detroit Institute of Arts. Our mission is to educate diverse audiences about the impact of dance, provide opportunities for artists to share their work, and create an artistic network linking Detroit, the greater US, and the world!

In the DIA’s Lecture Hall. Capacity is limited, seating begins half hour before performance start.

For full festival schedule visit their website.

Sponsored by Dance City Festival and ArtLab J

Saving the best for last, Dance and Celebration brings together world-renowned dancers and choreographers to provide a fitting endpiece for a weekend full of dance. Featuring works by inventive choreographers who play with movement, light and sound to create expressive works that emotionally impact the audience, this showcase is truly a celebration of dance and is not to be missed! (90 min.)

Dance City Festival (DCF) is an annual community building event that celebrates dance in its various forms and disciplines. Now in its thirteenth year in Detroit, and first year in Chicago and New York, DCF-Detroit includes performances, master classes, and networking opportunities all held in the vibrant city of Detroit at the festival’s central venue, Detroit Institute of Arts. Our mission is to educate diverse audiences about the impact of dance, provide opportunities for artists to share their work, and create an artistic network linking Detroit, the greater US, and the world!

For full festival schedule visit their website.

Sponsored by Dance City Festival and ArtLab J

This curated showcase brings together an inclusive representation of local, national, and international artists and dancers to share their current projects with fellow professionals and general audiences alike. Set within the historic DFT Auditorium, experience the creativity and passion of contemporary choreographers as they bring their visions to life on stage. (90 min.)

Dance City Festival (DCF) is an annual community-building event that celebrates dance in its many forms and disciplines. Now in its thirteenth year in Detroit — and its first in Chicago and New York — DCF-Detroit features performances, master classes, and networking opportunities, all held in the vibrant city of Detroit at the festival’s central venue, the Detroit Institute of Arts. The festival’s mission is to educate diverse audiences about the impact of dance, provide opportunities for artists to share their work, and create an artistic network linking Detroit, the greater U.S., and the world.

In the DIA’s Detroit Film Theatre Auditorium. Capacity is limited; seating begins half an hour before the performance starts.

For full festival schedule visit their website.

Sponsored by Dance City Festival and ArtLab J

Join us for a dynamic showcase celebrating local, national, and international talent. The Rivera Court Stage brings diverse styles of dance to Dance City Festival audiences in an inspiring museum setting. (60 min.)

Dance City Festival (DCF) is an annual community-building event that celebrates dance in its many forms and disciplines. Now in its thirteenth year in Detroit — and its first in Chicago and New York — DCF-Detroit features performances, master classes, and networking opportunities, all held in the vibrant city of Detroit at the festival’s central venue, the Detroit Institute of Arts. The mission is to educate diverse audiences about the impact of dance, provide a platform for artists to share their work, and foster an artistic network connecting Detroit, the greater U.S., and the world.

Location: Rivera Court at the DIA. Capacity is limited.

For full festival schedule visit their website.

Sponsored by Dance City Festival and ArtLab J

Join us for ArtLab J’s 13th Annual Spring Concert — a vibrant season-end showcase featuring our talented students in dance, art, and music, celebrating creativity and growth. As a leading academy with an integrated Creative Arts Program, we champion the transformative power of multidisciplinary arts education. Don’t miss this inspiring performance!

From May to October, the Detroit Institute of Arts’ Inside|Out program transforms everyday spaces into open-air galleries. Discover reproductions from the museum’s world-class collection right in your community and use #DIAInsideOut to share your experience on social media!

Check out maps of each community and the featured artwork on our updated Inside|Out page here.

Our partner communities for the 2025 season are:

• Schoolcraft College
• Grosse Pointe Region
• River Rouge
• Van Buren Township
• Grosse Ile
• Palmer Park
• Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion
• University of Detroit Mercy
• Wayne County Community College
• Davisburg/Springfield Township
• Waterford Township
• Wolverine Lake
• Madison Heights
• Lake Orion
• Beverly Hills
• Oakland Community College
• Oakland County Parks
• Charter Township of Shelby
• Eastpointe
• Armada Township
• Charter Township of Clinton
• City of Warren
• City of Roseville
• Memphis
• Macomb Community College
• Freedom Hill
• Henry Ford Hospital

The Detroit Institute of Arts' Inside|Out program is made possible by Tri-County millage support and Ford Philanthropy.

Explore the exhibition Painted with Silk: The Art of Early American Embroidery, then head to Rivera Court to join Stitch Club Detroit for an afternoon of hands-on embroidery and needle crafts! Club members will showcase some of their favorite pieces and teach you the basics of embroidery and cross-stitch. 

Plus, take home a custom cross-stitch pattern—complete with detailed instructions—to create your own ornament.

For families of all ages.

Weekend Family Programs at the DIA are generously presented by the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation.

Join in a celebration of Taiwanese-American culture at this exciting event that blends tradition with fun! Experience a traditional tea-picking dance, learn your Chinese zodiac sign, and receive personalized calligraphy. Be sure not to miss two thrilling lion dance performances, filled with energy and blessings for health, joy, and prosperity.

Event Schedule:

• 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.: Lion Dance Performance (10 min)
• 2:00 p.m.: Dance of the Tea Harvest (10 min)
• 2-Hour Interactive Activities: Chinese Zodiac & Name Booth, Personalized Calligraphy

Presented by the Michigan Lion Dance Team, this event offers a chance to celebrate culture, foster community, and enjoy a memorable experience.

Perfect for families with children of all ages, in the DIA’s Great Hall.

Weekend Family Programs at the DIA are generously presented by the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation.

In partnership with Multiple Sclerosis Society Ambassador Vickie Whyte, this free class will include a guided tour of the museum plus a make-and-take art project in the DIA Artmaking studio.

No experience is necessary and all supplies will be provided for making an accordion fold book. Capacity limited to 35 people.