I attended my very first Dance Kaleidoscope (DK) performance this past March with our Passport to the Arts group. And I’ve got to tell you, I was completely floored by how much I enjoyed it–I wasn’t the only one.
The other day, I happened to be emailing with David Hochoy, DK’s artistic director, and he mentioned their upcoming performance, The Next Wave, which just happens to be running this weekend. As you can imagine, I had to know more, and I thought you might (should) be interested, too. So, here’s a peek at our exchange:
Jenny Walton: Okay, let’s start with a little background on DK.
David Hochoy: Dance Kaleidoscope was founded in 1972. Our mission is “to inspire, educate and entertain through the experience of outstanding contemporary dance.”
Our dancers come from all over the country and are trained in ballet and Martha Graham Technique. The present company of 7 women and 7 men consists of 11 full company members and three apprentices.
We do 5 programs a year, mostly at the Indiana Repertory Theatre and at other theatres around town. We have been a part of the IndyFringe Festival for the past few years.
We have a very strong educational program, and regularly take programs out to the schools to introduce children to the art of dance.
J: What would you say might be the biggest surprise for a person who has never attended a DK performance?
For one thing, contemporary dance is hugely athletic. The last piece on the program, Catapult, will keep you on the edge of your seat because of its athleticism, and it will leave you exhausted when it is over!
Also, the music used in the program comes from a lot of contemporary sources, and some of it is simply stunning. And lastly, our dancers are magnificent artist-athletes who will mesmerize you with their moves!
J: I understand for your upcoming performance, The Next Wave, there will be four different choreographers—is this unusual or does it happen often?
D: Yes, I invited four choreographers from out of town to set pieces on us. Three of them are women. This is very unusual. Usually, I am the chief choreographer, and sometimes I have one guest choreographer. This time none of the pieces are mine. All of the choreographers are younger than me, so they have a young “outlook” and “point of view.”
The reason that it doesn’t happen very often is that it is very expensive to bring in four guests, and we had to do some extra special fundraising for specifically this program!
J: As a member of the audience, what you say I should be looking for or paying attention to during this particular show?
D: The Next Wave is a big deal because you will get to see the dancers in four very different styles of movement. This has been very challenging to them, and in living up and besting it they have exposed facets of themselves that are rarely seen!
In addition, audiences will get to learn something of each of the choreographers as revealed in their pieces. For instance Brock Clawson’s piece is about his personal intimate relationships that he has had in his life.
Love it? Get your tickets now!
Photo credits: Chris Crawl and Freddie Kelvin
