2008: Hawai'i Revisited

Halau O Kekuhi
The Brothers Cazimero
Ledward Ka'apana

If you missed the premiere of this spectacular event in 2006, don't let this opportunity pass you by! Connect with a culture thousands of years old, a proud native people, and the spirit of aloha through traditional and contemporary music, hula, and gorgeous HD video footage of the natural beauty of the islands.

Face of America: Hawai'i Preview Video

Previous Face of America™ Performances

2006: Hawai'i
Take an unforgettable artistic journey to the islands of Hawai'i. Celebrate the spirit of aloha with the epic myth of Pele, the Goddess of Fire, powerfully portrayed in the ancient language of hula by Halau O Kekuhi. Enjoy the contemporary and traditional Hawaiian music and dance of Grammy Award-nominee, Keali'i Rechel, instrumental sounds of Ledward Ka'apana, master of slack-key guitar, and spectacular images filmed at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, and Haleakala National Park.


2003: A Celebration of Flight
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kitty Hawk

From the legend of Icarus to the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, the desire to fly has driven human innovation. In America, the dream became reality with the first flight of the Wright Brothers and continued to inspire invention with the first lunar landing, space exploration, and beyond.
Wolf Trap’s Face of America 2003 celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first powered flight of the Wright Brothers by following their adventures from Ohio to North Carolina. We also honored the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen, World War II African-American military pilots.

2002: Mammoth Cave National Park
Through bluegrass music and innovative dance, Wolf Trap went on a thrilling journey in 2002 to the center of the earth, in the heart of Kentucky's bluegrass country. Mammoth Cave is the longest recorded cave system in the world, with more than 336 miles of explored and mapped land. It is accented by the scenic river valleys of the Green and Nolin Rivers and a section of South Central Kentucky. Face of America went deep underground to explore rock carved long ago by rushing water into massive underground caverns.

2001: Virgin Islands National Park
Wolf Trap explored the beautiful and historically rich Virgin Islands National Park/Coral Reef National Monument. The world premiere of an original dance piece by renowned choreographer Donald Byrd was filmed on location amidst the captivating scenery and historic ruins of St. John and was projected in high definition on large screens at the Filene Center. The dancers also appeared live on stage at Wolf Trap, interacting with their on-screen images. An original musical composition by celebrated jazz composer Steve Turre featured the mystical sounds of the West Indies played on conch shells by Turre and his group Sanctified Shells, and master storyteller Alice McGill built a performance that celebrated the history and heritage of the people of St. John and brought to life the rich stories and legends of the region. The Face of America™ 2001 performance premiered live at Wolf Trap on September 8, 2001.

2000: Yosemite National Park
Wolf Trap's partner for the series' inaugural year was Yosemite National Park. An original work, Luminescent Flights, by aerial dance company Project Bandaloop and Native American flutist Robert Mirabal illuminated the beauty and power of Yosemite's towering rock faces in this breathtaking natural environment. The program at Wolf Trap featured segments filmed on location and projected in high-definition television on giant screens and accompanied by a live performance by the artists themselves. This inaugural presentation of Face of America™ premiered live at Wolf Trap on September 8, 2000.