A choreographer and former dancer with The Washington Ballet, Stephen Nakagawa, has been named the new head of the Kennedy Center's dance programming, days after the entire staff of the renowned performing arts institution's dance department was fired .

In a press statement sent to NPR on Monday, the president of the Kennedy Center, Richard Grenell, said: "Stephen is a celebrated ballerino who has been trained by world-renowned artistic directors and was a company dancer right here in Washington, D.C. with The Washington Ballet. Stephen is passionate about Dance education and finding ways to reach new audiences."

Neither Nakagawa's online professional biography nor the one sent as part of the Kennedy Center's announcement mentions any relevant experience he may have as a curator

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