The Virginia Arts Festival is going big for its 26th anniversary season, bringing one of the biggest names in music history in May.

A hint: People say I’m the life of the party ‘cause I tell a joke or two ...

Smokey Robinson, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, prolific composer, living legend, is only one of several highlights of the festival schedule.

The festival announced its 2022-23 season Thursday morning and it includes dance performances by acclaimed troupes such as the Mark Morris Dance Group, which the VAF co-commissioned to create a work set to the music of Burt Bacharach. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns in April with performances in Newport News and Norfolk. The Philadelphia Ballet performs “Swan Lake” in April, followed in May by Ballet Hispánico dancing in celebration of Cinco de Mayo.

Next month, the Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir will be at the Attucks Theatre, performing songs commemorating the South African civil rights movement.

The VAF’s popular outdoor Perry Pavilion will host some of the biggest names in folk music, such as Josh Ritter, and Leyla McCalla, the former banjoist for the Carolina Chocolate Drops. The season will also see several world premieres, including by mandolinist and singer-songwriter Chris Thile, a MacArthur Fellow. Thile will perform a new concerto accompanied by Eric Jacobsen, conductor of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. They will have performances in Newport News, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

Now, back to Smokey. Robinson helped build what became the Detroit-born Motown. Robinson formed the Miracles while in high school in the late 1950s. The song “Shop Around” became the group’s first No. 1 hit in 1960. He wrote other chart-toppers for the Miracles, including “Tracks of My Tears,” “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” and “Ooo Baby Baby.” Robinson wrote classics for other Motown names including “My Guy” for Mary Wells, “Don’t Mess With Bill” for the Marvelettes and “Ain’t That Peculiar” for Marvin Gaye.

Later, Robinson recorded the instantly recognizable “Quiet Storm,” “Cruisin,’ ” and “Being with You.”

Tickets are on sale.

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November

“Bach’s St. John Passion,” International Bach Academy of Stuttgart. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18. Friday. St. Bede Catholic Church, Williamsburg. $21-$68.

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December

“Hope — It’s Been A Long Time Coming,” Soweto Gospel Choir. 7 p.m. Dec. 4. Attucks Theatre, Norfolk. $15-$45.

Vienna Boys Choir. All performances at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, First Baptist Church, Richmond. Dec.12, Harrison Opera House, Norfolk. Dec. 13, St. Bede Catholic Church, Williamsburg. $41.25-$55.

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January

Robin Eubanks. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21. Attucks Theatre. $25.

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February

Lisanne Lyons. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4 Attucks Theatre. $25.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25. Chrysler Hall, Norfolk. $21-$275.

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March

Tony Micelli. 7:30 p.m. March 4. Attucks Theatre. $25.

“Pride and Prejudice,” Aquila Theatre. 7:30 p.m. March 16. Attucks Theatre. $10-$35.

“Rhythm LIVE!” 7:30 p.m. March 17. Harrison Opera House. $10-$15.

Randall Goosby and Anna Han. 7:30 p.m. March 18. Attucks Theatre. $10-$25.

“One Earth Tour 2023: Tsuzumi,” KODO. 4 p.m. March 19, Chrysler Hall. $15-$45.

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April

“Swan Lake,” Philadelphia Ballet. 7:30 p.m. April 14 and 15; 2:30 p.m. April 16. Chrysler Hall. $25-$90.

Calmus. 7:30 p.m. April 24. Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Norfolk. $35.

Virginia International Tattoo. April 20-23. Scope arena, Norfolk. $20-$100.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. 7:30 p.m. April 25, Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News. April 28-30, Chrysler Hall. $25-$100.

David Russell. 7:30 p.m. April 26. Robin Hixon Theater, Clay and Jay Barr Education Center, Norfolk. $35.

Mames Babegenush. 7:30 p.m. April 27. Perry Pavilion, Norfolk. $25-$35.

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May

“All Things Equal: The Life & Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” a play by Rupert Holmes. 7:30 p.m. May 2. Attucks Theatre. $20-$35.

Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer with Rakesh Chaurasia. 7:30 p.m. May 3. Perry Pavilion. $25-$59.

“At The Illusionist’s Table,” Scott Silven. May 2-7, Cavalier Resort, Virginia Beach. May 9-14, Hilton The Main Hotel, Norfolk. Tickets: vafest.org

“Ballet Hispánico.” 7:30 p.m. May 5. Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. $40-$50.

“Chicago: The Musical — In Concert,” Virginia Symphony Orchestra. 7:30 p.m. May 6. Chrysler Hall. $39-$110.

Josh Ritter. 7:30 p.m. May 7. Perry Pavilion. $25-$55.

Olga Kern. 2:30 p.m. May 7. Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. $25-$59.

Leyla McCalla. 7:30 p.m. May 10. Perry Pavilion. $25-$35.

Dalí Quartet and Olga Kern. 10:30 a.m. May 10. Robin Hixon Theater, Clay and Jay Barr Education Center. $25. 7:30 p.m. May 11. Norfolk Academy. $35.

Dalí Quartet. 10:30 a.m. May 12. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Portsmouth. $25.

Virginia International PANFest. 10 a.m. May 12-13. 24th Street Stage, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Free.

Mark Morris Dance Group: “The Look of Love,” featuring music by Burt Bacharach. 7:30 p.m. May 13. Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. $25-$49.

Colin MacKnight. 4 p.m. May 14. Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. $25.

Emerson String Quartet. 7:30 p.m. May 15. Robin Hixon Theater, Clay and Jay Barr Education Center. $35.

Chris Thile and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. All performances at 7:30 p.m. May 19, Ferguson Center for the Arts. May 20, Chrysler Hall. May 21, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. $25-$114.

Smokey Robinson. 7:30 p.m. May 21. Chrysler Hall. $49.50-$120.

Tianwa Yang, Olga Kern, Sterling Elliott and Darrin Milling. 7:30 p.m. May 23. Robin Hixon Theater, Clay and Jay Barr Education Center. $35.

Tianwa Yang, Olga Kern and Sterling Elliott.10:30 a.m. May 25. Ohef Sholom Temple, Norfolk. $25.

Tianwa Yang, Olga Kern, Sterling Elliott and Debra Wendells Cross. 10:30 a.m. May 26. Williamsburg Regional Library. $25.

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June

Virginia Arts Festival Chamber Players with additional artists to be announced. 10:30 a.m. June 7. Hennage Auditorium, Colonial Williamsburg. $25.

Over the Rhine. 7:30 p.m. June 8. Perry Pavilion. $25-$35.

“Five Freedom Songs by Jessie Montgomery,” Julia Bullock and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. 7:30 p.m. June 14, Attucks Theatre. $10-$25.

Williamsburg Live. June 16-18. Artists and performance times to be announced.

Colin Warren-Hicks, 919-818-8138, colin.warrenhicks@virginiamedia.com