Indy’s dance scene is a beautiful tapestry of talent that often flies under the radar. There are dozens of dancers worth highlighting because of the work they do in the community, but here are 10 to get to know, with summer festival season underway.
Cuong “Koi Roi” Tran
Styles: Freestyle, waving, popping, tutting
Instagram: @king.koi.roi, @circlecitysessions
Koi Roi is a household name in cypher circles all over the city. With loving energy, he spreads the word about culture and street dance and will welcome anyone into a cypher in just about any corner of the city. He is also known for posting videos of his practice sessions on Instagram.
He founded Circle City Crew and is a member of the Robot Mafia Crew, The System Crew, Circle City Crew, and ICNH (Insert Crew Name Here). He is a teaching artist at Monarca Academy and Arts with a Purpose.
See him: Take his free, open-level Intro to Improv and Freestyle Masterclass July 19 at the Indy Dance Festival.
Yoshiko Kamikusa
Style: Classical ballet
Instagram: @yoshikokamikusa, @indyballet
Kamikusa, a principal dancer with Indianapolis Ballet, has a work ethic that could outpace the sun. Born in Tokyo and raised in Hawaii, she has trained all over the world. She recently brought crowds to their feet as the title role in “Romeo and Juliet” at Clowes Hall, accompanied by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
See her perform: July 20 at Indy Dance Festival or at her parents’ new restaurant, Legacy Tokyo, opening later this summer at CCIC.
Sarah Taylor
Style: Contemporary
Instagram: @sarsartaytay, @dancekal, @dancingfoodbabies
Taylor is originally from Portland, Oregon, and moved to Indy five years ago to join Dance Kaleidoscope, the city’s largest professional contemporary dance company. She also teaches classes and does choreography.
Taylor’s dance journey took a turn in April 2023 when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. After a short time off, when she learned to manage her blood sugar as a full-time athlete, Taylor made the 2023-2024 season her comeback story.
See her perform: July 21 at the Indy Dance Festival.
Lalah Hazelwood
Styles: Modern, contemporary and heels
Instagram: @lalahayan, @kenyetta_dance, @saucy_stilettos
It’s been a privilege to watch Hazelwood’s journey from a talented high schooler who took company class with Dance Kaleidoscope to her leadership as associate artistic director, rehearsal director and principal dancer with Kenyetta Dance Company, founded in 2005 by her mother, Vanessa Owens.
She is also the founder & CEO of Saucey Stilettos and teaches at IU Bloomington and the Indiana Ballet Conservatory. She brings grace, style, and sophistication into every arena she enters.
See her perform: July 21 at the Indy Dance Festival.
Ashley Lain
Style: Tap
Instagram: @ashleylain, @circlecitytap
Lain has been tap dancing since she was 3. First a dancer with and now the artistic director of Circle City Tap Company, she has been helping to uphold the tap footprint in Indy for years. More recently, she founded INtime Tap Productions.
When she’s not teaching dance, you can find her teaching 7th grade math at Noblesville East Middle School.
See her perform: July 21 at the Indy Dance Festival with NZ Tap director Shannon Kaminski and CCTC member Sierra Krichiver.
Keegan “Seoul” Loye
Style: Breaking
Instagram: @seoulvseoul, @31SVN, @pacershypecrew
Seoul co-founded 31SVN Street Dance Academy in Fishers in 2018 and has been spreading the love for breakin’ to students in Indy ever since. 31SVN host classes, workshops and battles and boasts a youth and adult performance crew of boundless talent and style.
On the scene since 2005, he is also one of the founders of 61Syx Street Dance Academy in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and serves as the coach of the Pacers Hype Crew.
See him: Teaching classes at 31SVN, dancing at Pacers games, and performing July 20 the Indy Dance Festival.
Vrinda Sunil
Style: Classical Indian
Instagram: @natyalaya1
Sunil founded the Natyalaya School of Arts in Carmel in 2006 to teach centuries-old dance forms like Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam. The school has helped more than hundred young learners connect with the richness and magnitude of Indian traditions and cultures.
She also recently won first place in an international dance competition in Barcelona.
See her: Visit the Natyalaya School’s website for performance dates.
Kristine Lopez
Style: Ballet folklorico
Instagram: @kristinelopezz, @indyfolklore
Lopez has has studied and performed locally with both Ballet Folklorico Mosaicos, and Grupo Folclórico Macehuani. After almost a decade of dancing, taking classes and traveling the United States and to Mexico, she has opened a school of her own. The Indy Folklorico Academy will serve students ages 15 and up.
The dancers of iibada Dance Company
Style: Modern and African
Instagram: @iibadadanceco
Founded by Sabra Logan in 1989, iibada has served as a pillar of Indy dance for more than 34 years. On the third floor of Broadway United Methodist church, you’ll find students practicing various styles for an impressive calendar of performances. Many alumni have gone on to successful careers.
Iibada is also the home of Epiphany Dance Company, led by another local dance icon, Ronne Stone, who often teaches an open community class on Saturdays.
With Tierre Clark named iibada’s new executive director, the dance company’s future is bright.
Justin Sears
Style: Contemporary
Instagram: @jus10dance
Sears is a dancer, teacher and choreographer blazing a new path as a leader and practitioner of Movement Meditations for Recovery, which aims to inspire healing. He radiates an infectious and loving energy, particularly in communities prioritizing recovery and personal growth.
He is a teaching artist with Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning, and an ABC fellow with Arts for Learning and a Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion Institute fellow.
Previously, he founded and directed the Phoenix Rising Dance Studios and Company. He was also a professional contemporary dancer with Dance Kaleidoscope for five seasons.
See him perform: In August at CricIndy’s DEI networking corporate event and in November at the Spirit & Place Festival.
Mariel Greenlee is the founder/creator of Indy Dance Council. They will host the Indy Dance Festival July 19-21 at Butler University, featuring 16 local performing groups, 10 masterclasses, free panel discussions and community classes.
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