We’re thrilled to introduce the 2026/27 Jaffee & Hall Emerging Choreographer: Natasha Adorlee!
Award-winning choreographer and filmmaker Natasha Adorlee creates deeply immersive works that explore memory, identity, inheritance, and resilience. A first-generation Asian American artist, Natasha’s choreography blends classical ballet with contemporary and street dance influences, earning acclaim for its cinematic pacing, striking musicality, and emotional depth.
Since launching her choreographic career in 2016, Natasha has created more than 20 original works for stage, film, and immersive experiences. Her acclaimed dance film Take Your Time received international recognition, and she has been commissioned by leading organizations including Joffrey Ballet, BalletX, Richmond Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theatre, and Jacob’s Pillow. Her creative collaborations also span Pixar Animation Studios, National Geographic, Oculus, and The New Yorker. Her work has been recognized with an NEA Grant, a Jacob’s Pillow Choreographic Fellowship, and the 2024 Grand Prize at the Palm Desert Choreography Festival.
Created in honor of visionary artistic leaders Cherri Jaffee and Ginger Hall, the Jaffee & Hall Emerging Choreographer Award supports the creation of a new work for Dance Kaleidoscope each season.
Cherri Jaffee said of Natasha’s work, “Adorlee is a boundary-pushing choreographer, musician, dancer and filmmaker. In her proposal for a collaborative work with DK titled “Vacila”, she suggests creating juxtapositions and subverting expectations while interpreting the music of Willie Bobo, a renowned Latin percussionist and jazz drummer. Natasha is a visionary choreographer who is redefining what the dancer’s body can communicate onstage. We look forward to this exciting collaboration as part of DK’s 55th season!”
Introducing the choreographer and director of our upcoming production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Joshua L. Peugh.
Joshua L. Peugh (he/him) is the Founder and former Artistic Director of Dark Circles Contemporary Dance and Co-founder of Fair Assembly (an ensemble theatre company). A graduate of Southern Methodist University and a former dancer with Korea’s Universal Ballet (under the direction of Oleg Vinogradov), he has created work for festivals in Asia, Europe, and North America, winning awards for his choreography in South Korea, Japan, Canada, and the USA. He was the recipient of the Grand Prize at the McCallum Theatre’s 18th Annual Choreography Festival, and Dance Magazine chose him as one of their “25 to Watch.” Joshua served as choreographer for legendary soprano Kathleen Battle’s concert Underground Railroad – A Spiritual Journey and was the 2018 recipient of the Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence. He has been commissioned to create over 60 new works for Amy Seiwert’s Imagery, BalletX, Ballet Memphis (Macbeth), Saint Louis Dance Theatre (My Dear Watson), BODYTRAFFIC, Boston Dance Theater (Sweeney Todd), Bruce Wood Dance Project, Collage Dance Collective, Company E, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dallas Theater Center (Colossal), Dance Kaleidoscope (The Legend of Sleepy Hollow), Dance Lab NY, DanceWorks Chicago, Eisenhower Dance, Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, MADCO, METdance, Missouri Contemporary Ballet, Newport Contemporary Ballet (The Tempest), Richmond Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Verb Ballets (Romeo and Juliet), Water Street Dance Milwaukee, WaterTower Theater (The Ballad of Little Jo), and Whim W’Him, among others.
See Joshua’s work come to life October 2-4 and 9-11 at McGowan Hall in Indianapolis’ historic Old Northside neighborhood.
Since its publication in 1820, Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has haunted readers with its unforgettable blend of suspense, folklore, and mystery. Though one of Irving’s shortest works, it has inspired generations of artists, securing its place as one of America’s most beloved ghost stories.
At the heart of the tale is a rivalry between the awkward schoolteacher Ichabod Crane and the bold Brom Bones, who both compete for the affection of Katrina Van Tassel. But what begins as a romantic competition soon descends into terror. After a harvest party on a dark autumn night, Ichabod rides alone through the shadowy woods, where he encounters the “Legend” itself. By morning, Ichabod has vanished, leaving behind only his horse and a shattered pumpkin.
Irving likely drew inspiration from European folklore, weaving those chilling legends into the familiar landscape of New York’s Hudson River Valley. By blending local history with supernatural mystery, he created a tale that feels both hauntingly believable and timeless.
Although Halloween is never mentioned in the original story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has become inseparable from the season. The image of the Headless Horseman riding beneath moonlit trees with a blazing jack-o’-lantern has become an enduring symbol of autumn and Halloween itself.
More than two centuries later, Irving’s tale continues to enthrall audiences, proving that some legends, and some fears, never fade. Dance Kaleidoscope looks forward to captivating you with Indy’s new fall tradition, Joshua L. Peugh’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, on October 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11 at McGowan Hall in Indianapolis’ historic Old Northside neighborhood.
Clockwise from upper righthand corner: The Queen’s Ball, Indy 500, Start with Art, Indianapolis Ballet Gala, Heartland Films’ Cinemania,Zoobilation, The Roulette Ball, and Sausage Fest.
When I arrived at Dance Kaleidoscope in 2021, I knew I was joining a respected organization with a rich history. What I could not have fully appreciated then was the extraordinary community that surrounds it.
One of the first opportunities I was given was helping complete the second phase of Dance Kaleidoscope’s capital campaign. The vision and heavy lifting had already been established by dedicated leaders, volunteers, donors, and staff. My role was to help bring that vision across the finish line and then begin answering an important question: Now that we have this home, what can it become?
Over the past five years, I have had the privilege of watching that answer unfold.
Today, our studio is active seven days a week with classes, rehearsals, community gatherings, and rentals. We hold open company classes, and our youth program serves more than 300 students. Our open rehearsals regularly welcome standing-room-only audiences. What was once a dream has become a vibrant gathering place where artists, students, and community members connect, and I have come to learn that a new building alone does not transform an organization. People do.
The same lesson applies to another defining moment in Dance Kaleidoscope’s history that I have been fortunate to witness firsthand: the transition in artistic leadership from David Hochoy to Joshua Blake Carter.
For more than three decades, David’s vision helped shape Dance Kaleidoscope into the organization we know today. To work alongside him during his final years of leadership was an extraordinary privilege. Today, I have the opportunity to partner with Joshua as he leads Dance Kaleidoscope into its next chapter with fresh ideas, new energy, and an exciting artistic vision. Standing at the intersection of those two eras has reinforced my belief that great organizations are built on something larger than any one individual. They endure because people care enough to invest in them, support them, and carry them forward.
That is why I am writing to you today.
As we look toward the future, Dance Kaleidoscope continues to dream boldly. We remain committed to creating exceptional artistic experiences, supporting professional artists, and serving as a cultural resource.
None of that happens without you.
If Dance Kaleidoscope has inspired you, challenged you, brought joy to your family, or helped make Indianapolis a more vibrant place to live, I hope you will consider making a gift today.
Your support is an investment not only in performances and programs, but in the future of an organization that continues to evolve, grow, and serve our community.
Thank you for the trust you have placed in Dance Kaleidoscope and for the many ways you have supported our work over the years. It has been one of the great privileges of my career to serve this organization for the past five years, and I am so excited about all that lies ahead.
With gratitude,
Kim Gutfreund
Executive Director
Dance Kaleidoscope
Help Us Finish the Year Strong
As we approach the end of our fiscal year on June 30, Dance Kaleidoscope is working to close a gap in our annual fundraising goal.
The investments made by our donors have helped transform our studios into a thriving community hub, support more than 300 students, and sustain the artistic excellence our audiences expect. Your support today will help us enter our next season from a position of strength.
Our June Goal: $15,000
Every gift makes a difference.
