Music & Performing Arts

Join us every Wednesday for in-person performances by some of the area’s best jazz musicians. 

Back at VMFA by popular demand, Lady E has been sharing her participatory performances in RVA for too many years to count. She always brings two bands featuring some of the area’s finest musicians to Dominion Energy Jazz Café. The result? An experience of pure joy through music. This evening's first set features Lady E and the jazzy, bluesy Synsation Big Band. The second set will showcase Lady E and the all-female “Bluez Sir-Not-Us” blues band. Fasten your seatbelts! “Hey, hey! The blues is all right!”

Know Before You Go

• Seating is limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Early arrival is strongly recommended.
• Saving seats for others is discouraged.
• Seats can no longer be saved once the performance begins.
• Please do not move the chairs and tables.
• No outside chairs or gallery stools are permitted.
• No outside alcohol is permitted.
• Harassing, discriminatory, or threatening behavior is strictly prohibited.

Maintaining a free, safe, and accessible experience for all is our priority. Come and enjoy the music! 

This event is part of our Dominion Energy Jazz Café program series.

Maintaining a free, safe, and accessible experience for all is our priority. Come and enjoy the music! 

This event is part of our Dominion Energy Jazz Café program series.

Join us every Wednesday for in-person performances by some of the area’s best jazz musicians. 

Presenting a night of swing, jazz, blues, and other musical mashups, Claudia Carawan is a vocalist and alto saxophonist whose heartful sound has been described as positively soulful.  Featuring Lucy Kilpatrick on piano, Donald Faye on woodwinds, Carter Blough on bass, and Todd Woodson on drums. 

Know Before You Go

• Seating is limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Early arrival is strongly recommended.
• Saving seats for others is discouraged.
• Seats can no longer be saved once the performance begins.
• Please do not move the chairs and tables.
• No outside chairs or gallery stools are permitted.
• No outside alcohol is permitted.
• Harassing, discriminatory, or threatening behavior is strictly prohibited.

Maintaining a free, safe, and accessible experience for all is our priority. Come and enjoy the music! 

This event is part of our Dominion Energy Jazz Café program series.

Join us every Wednesday for in-person performances by some of the area’s best jazz musicians. 

Debra Dean and her AllStar Band are favorites at Jazz Café. These veterans of the music scene are sure to swing with great music for another unforgettable night. Featuring Patrick Lawler on guitar, Lucy Kilpatrick on keyboards, Jonathan Wheelock on bass, and Todd Woodson on drums. 

Know Before You Go

• Seating is limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Early arrival is strongly recommended.
• Saving seats for others is discouraged.
• Seats can no longer be saved once the performance begins.
• Please do not move the chairs and tables.
• No outside chairs or gallery stools are permitted.
• No outside alcohol is permitted.
• Harassing, discriminatory, or threatening behavior is strictly prohibited.

Maintaining a free, safe, and accessible experience for all is our priority. Come and enjoy the music! 

This event is part of our Dominion Energy Jazz Café program series.

In Mughal fashion, to celebrate an epic summer and the just-announced extension of India's Great Mughals: Art, Power, and Opulence, now closing September 7, we're going extra with an After 5 Fridays that's off the charts! Dance to music by special guest DJ Jasbir, playing a high-energy, genre-spanning set of the vibrant sounds of India, a musical blend of Bollywood, Bhangra, regional favorites, and globally recognized hits. Enjoy exhibition-inspired cocktails and stop by Best Café for beer and wine specials. Guided exhibition tours will also be available with the purchase of an exhibition ticket. Also, attendees will receive 10% off their purchases in the VMFA Shop (a few exclusions apply). The event's indoors to keep you cool, but it's bound to be the hottest After 5 Fridays of the summer. Don't miss it!

This event is part of our After 5 Fridays program series.

After 5 Fridays is the perfect way to kick off the weekend. Relax with a beverage, visit the galleries for an art escape, and take part in the evening’s featured attraction.

 DJ Zulu will be on the spin on the Pauley Center patio, so join us in the Robins Sculpture Garden, bring a blanket or lawn chairs, and come ready to dance. Beer, wine, and snacks are available for purchase in the Best Café. In case of inclement weather, we'll move the party to the Cochrane Atrium. 

This event is part of our After 5 Fridays program series.

After 5 Fridays is the perfect way to kick off the weekend. Relax with a beverage, visit the galleries for an art escape, and take part in the evening’s featured attraction.

 DJ Jungle Brother will be on the spin on the Pauley Center patio, bringing a mix of hip-hop and Latin rhythms to help us finish out Hispanic Heritage Month in style! Join us in the Robins Sculpture Garden, bring a blanket or lawn chairs, and come ready to dance. Beer, wine, and snacks are available for purchase in the Best Café. In case of inclement weather, we'll move the party to the Cochrane Atrium.

This event is part of our After 5 Fridays program series.

After 5 Fridays is the perfect way to kick off the weekend. Relax with a beverage, visit the galleries for an art escape, and take part in the evening’s featured attraction. 

Join Richmond Indian Dance Academy for a fun, upbeat, and lively evening of Bollywood dance! Rooted in rich cultural tradition, Bollywood dance is a vibrant fusion of classical Indian, folk, and modern styles—blending storytelling, expressive movements, and high-energy choreography into an unforgettable experience.

This event is part of our After 5 Fridays program series.

After 5 Fridays is the perfect way to kick off the weekend. Relax with a beverage, visit the galleries for an art escape, and take part in the evening’s featured attraction. 

This is your invitation to move, connect, and have fun—no experience needed!
Polina Kravchuk of Fred Astaire Dance Studios Richmond will lead guests through the timeless beauty of waltz, a dance known for its graceful movement, soft rotation, and elegant partnership. This lesson captures the Impressionist world of light, color, and social dancing to help guests feel the joy of moving together.

Polina is known not only as a decorated professional, but also as a beginner specialist for her encouraging teaching style and ability to make ballroom dance feel both approachable and special. 

Whether you are brand new to dance or simply ready for a beautiful evening at the museum, this experience offers a chance to step onto the floor with confidence, connection, and a little bit of Parisian charm.

This event is part of our After 5 Fridays program series.

Presented by VMFA and the Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival, this powwow features family activities, artist demonstrations, and performances showcasing celebrated dancers from multiple Native American nations.