To Inspire, Educate, and Entertain through the experience of outstanding contemporary dance.
Dance Kaleidoscope, under the leadership of Christel DeHaan Artistic Director Joshua Blake Carter, presents four unique main stage performances in Indianapolis each year with diverse work created by industry leading choreographers.
Showcasing athleticism and technical expertise, Dance Kaleidoscope leaves the audience feeling invigorated and moved every time they take the stage. Now in their 54th season, Dance Kaleidoscope is one of the Midwest’s longest-performing professional dance companies. Founded in 1972 to bring contemporary dance to public schools, today Dance Kaleidoscope inspires, educates and entertains audiences across the country.
Dance Kaleidoscope strives to create a culture where people from all backgrounds can collaboratively learn, work and serve. Dance Kaleidoscope strives to remove barriers that prevent any population from working, learning, or dancing with us. We’ve joined forces with other Indianapolis cultural institutions through the Access Pass Program to make dance experiences accessible with $5 tickets and deeply discounted dance class tuition fees through our scholarship program.
Christel DeHaan was a dedicated leader and generous philanthropist in Indianapolis, and prior to her passing in 2020, she shared her desire to close the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation and expend its corpus through Legacy Gifts to organizations with whom she had special relationships. Christel supported and believed in Dance Kaleidscope’s artistic excellence. We are so proud to accept this Legacy Gift and in perpetuity, have named our Artistic Director in her honor and memory.
Collaboration and community engagement are vital components of Dance Kaleidoscope. Dance Kaleidoscope has collaborated with the Damien Center, Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Ballet Hispanico, Phoenix Rising Dance Company, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
In 2019, Dance Kaleidoscope began construction to create an artistic home in the Factory Arts District. Today, the company and staff work together under one roof, and Dance Kaleidoscope School offers 34 weekly classes to over 200 students. We also make our studio available to community groups and artists.
Dance Kaleidoscope enables students to discover dance through various educational programs. You’ll also find Dance Kaleidoscope performing on the Eskenazi Health Main Campus as part of the Marianne Tobias Music Program. We support other nonprofit organizations to make our community a better place to live, work and play, such as the Damien Center, the Firefly Children and Family Alliance and the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir.
“It’s humbling to be retiring at the end of the 50th Anniversary Season. We’ve been reflecting on the past but mostly we are all looking forward together to an exciting and sustainable future for Dance Kaleidoscope.”
— DAVID HOCHOY
David Hochoy retired from his position as Artistic Director at the end of the 2022–2023 season. In honor of his 32 years of service to Dance Kaleidoscope, the Board of Trustees named him Artistic Director Emeritus. This planned retirement coincided with Dance Kaleidoscope’s 50th Anniversary Season.
