Members of the Battery Dance Company pose for pictures with  dancers from Taiwan

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs supports a variety of cultural exchange programs that utilize the performing arts to reach out to diverse publics abroad. Performing arts programs are an important means of developing an appreciation of American culture and values in foreign audiences. American performing artists in music, dance and theatre present performances, conduct workshops, master classes and related activities with the goal of engaging overseas audiences and encouraging mutual understanding and respect. Through these programs, American performers also learn to value other cultures.

Performing Arts Initiative provides financial support to U.S. Embassies for presentations of American performing art and artists. They are an important way to foster goodwill, engage foreign audiences and provide insight into American culture and values. Proposals submitted by U.S. Embassies are competitively reviewed, and projects are selected twice annually. In an effort to engage diverse audiences, Embassies arrange performance opportunities for artists at a variety of venues including local universities, primary schools, town squares, and concert halls. Every effort is made to ensure that artists reach a range of venues within the host country and that their performances are not limited to one or two major cities. In this way, artists reach audiences that may not otherwise have the opportunity to meet and experience American performers. In addition to performing, artists conduct educational programs, workshops, lectures, and participate in informal jam sessions with local musicians.