Asheville -- July 10, 2026: Asheville's Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance is set to renew its impactful partnership with MANNA FoodBank for its 2026 AscenDANCE season. This renewed collaboration aims to blend world-class dance with crucial community support for addressing food insecurity across Western North Carolina.
The partnership centers around the Asheville run of AscenDANCE, scheduled for July 23–25, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at the Diana Wortham Theatre. The season will also include a youth matinee performance at noon on July 24. Terpsicorps notes that its 2026 season is also paired with Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC for performances in Winston-Salem.
The production is being framed as both a significant artistic event and a hunger-awareness effort. Explore Asheville describes the show as “an evening of world-class dance celebrating hope, connection and the enduring strength of the human spirit,” presented in collaboration with MANNA FoodBank to highlight the realities of food insecurity. A key part of the program is the world premiere of Heather Maloy's Coming Up for Air, alongside her acclaimed work HUNGER, which explores human desire and need through twelve vignettes. The program also features Salvatore Aiello's Clowns and Others.
Before the main season opens, Terpsicorps has scheduled a special fundraiser, Movement for MANNA, on July 9, 2026, from 6–8 p.m. at Momentum Gallery in downtown Asheville. This event will feature live Terpsicorps performances, improvised music, and food tastings from partnering restaurants. Proceeds from a raffle held during the event will be split between MANNA FoodBank and Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance.
This returning partnership underscores Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance's commitment to community engagement, as the company regularly partners with local nonprofits. The 2026 AscenDANCE season, with its focus on MANNA FoodBank, highlights a dual benefit for the Asheville area, supporting both the performing arts and vital efforts to combat hunger in the region.
More Information and Tickets: https://www.worthamarts.org/events/ascendance/