Meet Kim Gutfreund 
April 27, 2021
Following a months-long search throughout the Midwest, Dance Kaleidoscope (DK) announces the hiring of Kim Gutfreund as the company’s new executive director.
Formerly the executive director of Jackson School of the Arts in Michigan, Gutfreund was a driving force behind the growth of Jackson’s arts and cultural sector and offered a unique vision to drive community impact and access. She positioned the organization as a leading provider of arts education and developed a public-private partnership with the City of Jackson to relocate the organization downtown to support organizational growth and the city’s economic development. Gutfreund is deeply committed to building stronger and more vibrant communities.
Prior to her work in Jackson, Gutfreund was executive director of Peter Sparling Dance Co. in Ann Arbor, MI, where she led the professional modern dance company through its startup years. Sparling, like DK’s artistic director David Hochoy, danced with the Martha Graham Dance Company. Gutfreund said, “When I saw this career opportunity, I called Peter, who told me that he has great respect for David’s work. The more I learned about DK and its celebrated history, the more excited I became about the potential to support the company’s next phase of growth.”
Gutfreund will step into the position held by Jan Virgin for 25 years. Virgin’s June 30, 2021 retirement was previously announced. “I’m excited to see where Kim will take DK,” said Virgin. “When I met with her, I was truly impressed by her energy, determination and sense of humor. She’s going to do great things here in Indianapolis.”
“I am honored to join DK as its next executive director,” said Gutfreund. “It is clear that the quality and creativity presented on stage is the foundation of the organization, as evidenced by its dedicated Board of Trustees, staff and the Indianapolis community that understands the value of the arts.”
Gutfreund will relocate to Indianapolis to begin this next phase at DK in mid-June. For the first several weeks, Virgin will work closely with her to welcome her and ensure a smooth transition.
