About Us

Encouraging Communication through the
International Language of the Arts

The Center for World Performance Studies (CWPS) at the University of Michigan International Institute was established in 2000 to serve the needs of faculty and a student body with an interest in the discipline of performance studies. The inaugural celebration in early 2001 filled the halls of the International Institute with music, song, and dance as visiting and University campus faculty, scholars and performance artists participated in the formal opening of the center.

Since that time, CWPS has worked toward uniting artists, performers, scholars and the community through the international language of the arts. To achieve this goal, the center annually sponsors a student seminar series, and several roundtables, public lectures, demonstrations, and stage performances.

CWPS fosters communication about performance issues through two hallmark programs. The Artist Residency program brings international artists to campus, and the Graduate Student Residency program gives university students the opportunity to study abroad. Both programs leave their international footprints on the campus, as artists and students alike share their unique experiences, new performance styles, and research findings with the university community.