Teachers
ArtMix
All abilities class (free)
Thursday 16th 2:00PM-3:00PM
ArtMix is an Indianapolis-based not-for-profit organization that works to transform the lives of people with and without disabilities through the creation of art. With four core programs and additional special projects and collaborations, ArtMix serves nearly 8,000 people annually. Our mission is rooted in the belief that art is for everyone, and we strive to remove barriers so all people can fully participate in creative experiences.
Robert G. Burden
House – Phlo
saturday 18th 3:30PM-5:00PM
Robert Burden is a Philly native who has trained in various forms from ballet, jazz, tap, codified modern techniques, and multiple hip hop styles. Burden is inspired by world building as a manifestation of the very experiences of being black and holding multiple identifications as well as the otherworldly and imaginative spaces of Anime and illustrative media. As a dancer, he is inspired by developing a pedagogical approach to movement and holds teaching and choreographic skills of various levels.
Natalie Clevenger
Limón Modern
Sunday 19th 10:30aM-12:30pM
Natalie Clevenger is from Mooresville, IN and grew up training at The Dance Refinery in Greenwood, IN. They then received their BFA in dance from the University of Arizona, where they received the Gertrude Shurr award for excellence in modern dance. Upon graduation, Natalie joined Dance Kaleidoscope under artistic director David Hochoy and danced with the company for three seasons. While with Dance Kaleidoscope, Natalie was awarded the Robert Beckmann Fellowship to produce a LGBTQ+ focused show, ENIGMA, which premiered August 2022 at the District Theatre. Natalie joined the José Limón Dance Company in the fall of 2022, and is currently touring internationally and domestically with the company. At Limón, they have been featured in works from guest choreographers Aszure Barton, Raúl Tamez, Kayla Farrish, and Diego Vega Solorza, among historical works by the greats, Doris Humphrey and José Limón. In NYC, Natalie is also a guest artist with Cornfield Dance and an aspiring choreographer, recently presenting work through the DIG Residency in Queens.
Brandon Comer
Stepping Out: Musical Theater Dance for 60+
Saturday 18th 10:00am-11:00am
Bio Coming Soon
Dr. Emmanuel Cudjoe
West african dance & rhythm
Sunday 19th 1:00pm-2:30pm
Dr. Emmanuel Cudjoe is a Ghanaian dance scholar, performer, choreographer, musician, and educator specializing in West African dance forms and African diasporic performance practices. He is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Ball State University, Muncie-Indiana and holds a Ph.D. in Dance Studies from Temple University, Philadelphia-USA. His work bridges embodied practice, research, and cultural preservation, with a strong emphasis on Afrocentric methodologies, transmission, and performance as knowledge systems. Dr. Cudjoe has taught, performed, and presented internationally across Africa, Europe, and North America, and is passionate about creating transformative learning spaces through movement, rhythm, and community engagement.
Indy Devera
Open Style Choreography
Saturday 18th 12:00pm-1:30pM
Indy Devera is a choreographer and the captain of the Pacers Hype Crew, leading high-energy performances for one of the NBA’s most dynamic entertainment teams. He directs The Indy Project, his own dance initiative pushing creative boundaries, and the co-founder of Xiphos Corps, a collegiate dance team at Indiana University Indianapolis. As co-producer of the Indy Open Dance Competition, Indy is committed to cultivating local talent and building platforms for the next generation of dancers.
Karen Gibbons-Brown
Ballet
Saturday 18th 12:00pm-1:30pm
Karen Gibbons-Brown began her early training in Columbia, South Carolina under Ann Brodie, Naomi Calvert and Adolphina Suarez-More, and included ballet as well as modern, jazz, tap and theater dance. She continued her studies at American Ballet Theatre with Maria Swoboda,
Michael Lland, Patricia Wilde and Leon Danelian and studied at David Howard School of Ballet.
Her professional experiences also include South Carolina Chamber Dance Ensemble, Ballet Celeste, Bristol Ballet and the Theatre Ballet of San Francisco where she recreated Anna Pavlova’s roles The California Poppy and The Dragonfly. Other highlight roles include title role in Cinderella, The Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Swanhilda in Coppélia, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty and Spring Waters pas de deux, and roles created for and on her.
Karen is known for her work in the classroom and enjoys teaching a variety of dance related subjects including ballet, pointe, repertoire, terminology, dance history, pedagogue and makeup and hair for stage as well as re-staging major classical works. She has been invited to teach guest classes around the world. She received her certification in Labanotation and served as Ballet Mistress for John McFall as he created his production of The Nutcracker for Atlanta Ballet.
Karen assumed directorship of Fort Wayne Ballet in August of 1998. Other career highlights include Outstanding Dance Artist Award in 1997, serving as a juror for Concours
International de Danse Classique in Paris, France in 2000, a 2002 graduate of Leadership Fort Wayne. On Technique by Dean Speer, identifies Ms. Gibbons-Brown among the world’s 18 most respected ballet masters, pedagogues and artistic directors.
Sagar Lalla & Amber Rose Greaney
Bachata Fusion Footwork
Sunday 19th 2:45pm-4:15Pm
Sagar Lalla and Amber Rose Greaney, known together as SxA, are Indianapolis-based bachata fusion artists, instructors, and performers who bring a dynamic blend of technical precision, raw artistry, and cross-genre creativity to every stage and classroom.
Amber’s dance journey spans over a decade, rooted in modern dance before a transformative move to Costa Rica in 2019 ignited her love for Latin styles. Back in the U.S., she trained intensively in salsa and bachata, earning a spot on Indianapolis’ premier mambo team, Mambo Magic, now entering her third season. She is also a choreographer and co-director of Puro Tumbao, a member and choreographer of the FUZE Ascend Ladies team, and a certified ConRi Style and FUZE instructor. Her competition résumé includes a 1st place finish at the Guatemala Salsa Congress in Bachata, and back-to-back 1st place finishes at Chicago Bachata Vibes and the Reno Salsa & Bachata Jack & Jill.
Sagar’s artistry is uniquely shaped by his street dance roots — popping, tutting, and animation — which he began in 2016 before discovering Latin dance in 2019. He joined Mambo Magic in 2023 and is a ConRi Style Certified instructor who continues training in both Latin dance and animation. His competitive highlights include winning the first-ever Bachatanama competition at the Empire Sensual Movement Festival.
Together, SxA have performed and taught bachata fusion at events across the country, offering students a fusion experience that is both technically grounded and artistically alive.
Amber – @itsamberroseg
Sagar – @slallaland
SxA- @sagarxamber.bachata
Justin Lewis
Tap Technique and combo
Sunday 20th 1:45pm-3:00Pm
Justin Lewis, tap dancer who hails from the Washington DC area. He was artistic director of Rhythmic Circus (MN), choreographer of Hot Shoe Shuffle in FL and performer in The JaM project (DC). Lewis has performed on various stages including Kennedy center, Lincoln center, Radio City Music Hall, Town Hall Broadway, Apollo Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe Festival Scotland and many more. Lewis has made tv appearances on Americas got talent and World of Dance season 2. He is an internationally recognized choreographer who has won many awards for his work and continues to educate and inspire youth in the dance industry.
Jennifer Lott
Improv
Saturday 18th 1:45pm-3:15pm
Countertechnique
Sunday 19th 1:00pm-2:30pm
Jennifer Lott is an Associate Professor at the USC Kaufman School of Dance in Los Angeles, where she teaches Countertechnique, Partnering, and Composition. She directs Kaufman School collaborations with the Thornton School of Music, Trinity Laban (UK), and the USC Arts and Climate Collective.
She is the co-founder and resident choreographer for the Traverse City Dance Project, now celebrating its 15th season. In 2025, she co-directed the inaugural Northern Michigan Dance Festival, featuring artists from Ailey, Miami City Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet and works by William Forsythe and Trey McIntyre.
An Indianapolis native, Jennifer began dancing at age 3 under Linda Rees at Dance Magic Performing Arts Center, went on to earn her BS in Ballet Performance from the IU Jacobs School of Music under Violette Verdy. She danced with many contemporary and ballet companies, and is especially grateful for the directors and mentors who nurtured her as a choreographer: Bill Wade, David Shimotakahara, Gina Gibney and Jodie Gates. Her career has brought her across the country and around the world, but she loves coming home to Indianapolis, and is thrilled to return to the Indy Dance Fest.
Keegan Seoul Loye
Intro to Breakin
Saturday 19th 1:45pm-3:15pm
Michelle Meltzer
Contemporary
Saturday 18th 3:30pm-5:00pm
Michelle Meltzer is a dancer and choreographer originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. She received her early training at the Jordan College Academy of Dance at Butler University, then later the Indianapolis School of Ballet under Victoria Lyras and with Gregory Hancock in Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre II, with supplemental training over the years from LINES Ballet, Ballet Chicago, Post:Ballet, and Gaga Lab.
She graduated with honors from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, earning a B.S. in Ballet with an Outside Field in Education. During her time there, she placed in the Bloomington Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters competition in 2010.
Michelle has danced professionally with Visceral Dance Chicago, Nevada Ballet Theatre, Aerial Dance Chicago, Chicago Repertory Ballet, C5, and in New Dances—a collaboration between DanceWorks and Thodos Dance Chicago. She currently performs with Symbiosis Arts.
Her repertoire includes works by acclaimed choreographers such as Mónica Cervantes, Brian Enos, Shannon Alvis, Marguerite Donlon, Danielle Agami, Ryan Nye, George Balanchine, August Bournonville, James Canfield, Daniel Ezralow, and Nick Pupillo, among others.
Michelle is a Co-director of Visceral Encore, a company for dancers over 35. She is also an Artistic associate with Symbiosis Arts.
As a choreographer, she has worked with Visceral Encore, Chicago Repertory Ballet, The Launch, Forum Dance Theater, and with her colleagues at Visceral during their annual Within performance.
In addition to her work in dance, Michelle is deeply invested in movement wellness. She holds a fully comprehensive Pilates certification, including pre and postnatal Pilates, as well as GYROTONIC® Level 1, Level 2 Program 1, and the Jumping Stretching Board certifications. She is also Precision Nutrition Level 1 certified. Michelle is inspired by movement’s capacity to promote healing and empower individuals to go beyond what they believe possible in their own bodies.
Iris Rosa Santiago
Sandunga
Sunday 19th 10:30am-12:00pm
Iris Rosa was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico and raised in East Chicago, Indiana. She is a Professor Emerita in the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies and the founding and former Director of the African American Dance Company. Her specializations include teaching dance technique, history, and choreography from the perspective of the African American and African Diaspora and bridging the contemporary modern dance genre with African diaspora dance forms and styles. Prof. Rosa has studied, researched, presented, and taught dance in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Havana, Matanzas, Guantanamo, and Santiago, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica and Beijing, China. Rosa opened the Iris Rosa Dance Studio in May 2022 and is the Artistic Director of Seda Negra/Black Silk Dance Company (SNBSDC) both located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her choreographic themes explore immigration, emigration and lived experiences
of people in the African diaspora.
