Crossroads Dance Indy
Crossroads Dance Indy (CDI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dance collective dedicated to building community through dance. Founded in 2015, CDI provides an artistic home for experienced dancers who may no longer follow traditional professional dance paths. Company members come from a wide range of professional backgrounds and come together to rehearse, collaborate, and create original work.
CDI believes that dance has no expiration date and that artistry can thrive at every stage of life. The organization presents performances throughout Indianapolis, offers choreographic and performance opportunities, and builds connections with artists and community partners.
Follow CDI on social media: @crossroadsdanceindy
Vimina Bagavath
Vimina Bagavath is a classical Indian dance artist based in Columbus, Indiana, whose life has been shaped by a decades-long devotion to Bharatanatyam, one of India's oldest classical dance forms, known for its intricate footwork, expressive hand gestures, and storytelling rooted in South Indian temple traditions.
Vimina's journey began in Kerala, India, where she was introduced to Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattom, another classical Indian dance style known for its graceful, flowing movements, by two accomplished teachers of both forms. She later studied Kathak, a classical dance style from North India known for its rhythmic footwork and spins, briefly training under a teacher in Mumbai before relocating to the United States.
A turning point in her artistic life came when she began training under Guru Shri Shankar Kandasamy, whose mentorship reinvigorated her passion for dance and helped refine and elevate her technique. She speaks of his guidance with deep gratitude, crediting him with shaping the dancer she has become.
Today, Vimina continues to train with Guru Dr. S. Divyasena, a respected expert in abhinaya, the expressive and emotive storytelling dimension of Indian classical dance. Guru Divyasena has generously mentored Vimina across abhinaya, nattuvangam, choreography, and the practice of dance research, opening doors for her and sharing her expertise with great care. Her guidance has shaped both Vimina's artistry and her intellectual understanding of the form.
Formalizing her lifelong practice, Vimina completed a Master's degree in Bharatanatyam from Aria University in California, a testament to both her artistic devotion and her scholarly approach to the tradition.
Alongside her artistic life, Vimina holds a career in finance at Cummins, balancing the demands of a professional career with an unwavering commitment to her cultural and creative pursuits.
Driven by a desire to pass on what she has learned, Vimina founded the Saraswati School of Dance in Columbus, Indiana. Through the school, she introduces children to Bharatanatyam and the broader richness of Indian culture and tradition, giving a new generation the chance to connect with an art form that has shaped her own life so profoundly. Her students don't just learn in the studio, they take the stage, performing at venues across Indiana and carrying the tradition forward into public view.
Vimina's story reflects a rare thread that runs from a childhood in Kerala to a career and community in the American Midwest: one where classical Indian dance is not a relic of the past, but a living, evolving practice, one she continues to study, perform, and now, teach.
Follow Vimina on social media: https://www.instagram.com/vimina.bagavath
Hannah Meyerson Crane
Hannah Meyerson Crane is a dance artist and arts administrator in Indianapolis concerned with memory and grief, embodied connections and community, spirituality, and studying and sharing African diasporic dance forms under the tutelage of Professor Iris Rosa and Baba Stafford C. Berry Jr.
Follow Hannah on Instagram: @hannah_crane_4
Ashley Lain with INtime Tap Productions
Ashley Lain is a passionate educator, performer, and facilitator of tap dance in the Indianapolis region. Her foundation in the art form was developed locally, under the mentorship of Linda Rees, and as her love for tap dance grew, she broadened the scope of her training to attend tap workshops and festivals in nearby states.
Lain continued to pursue tap dance after graduation and later joined Circle City Tap Company as a professional company member from 2017-2023. Opportunities to create, perform, learn, and build community were endless with Circle City Tap. Upon the closure of the company, Lain felt the need to continue pushing herself professionally while sustaining the spirit of the company in some small capacity.
INtime Tap Productions was founded so Lain could continue sharing her love of tap dance with the city through small personal projects, collaborations with other local artists, and occasional classes and workshops. INtime has been selected twice to perform in the Indy Dance Festival, has hosted “Tap Day Indy” in celebration of National Tap Dance Day, and has presented musicality and history workshops for tap dancers in the area.
Lain has most recently been seen performing alongside Pavel & Direct Contact at Indy’s WNBA All-Star Weekend and this past March at the NCAA Men’s Final Four Weekend.
Follow InTime Tap Productions on Instagram: @intimetaps
Erica Lohman
Erica Lohman is a professional dancer, choreographer, and instructor from Indianapolis, Indiana. She trained during her formative years under the direction of Jane Hachiya-Weiner before earning her B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography, summa cum laude with honors, from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, where she performed in works by renowned faculty and choreographers such as Christopher Huggins, Cleo Parker Robinson, Mikel Fokine, George Balanchine, and Christopher Wheeldon.
She spent four seasons with American Midwest Ballet (AMB) in Omaha, Nebraska, where she danced multiple roles in their ballet productions and was featured in works by choreographers Bob Fosse, Frank Chaves, Monique Haley, and Ray Mercer. Erica has previously performed with De La Dance Company, Kansas City Ballet, Wylliams Henry Contemporary Dance Company, and Albany Berkshire Ballet. She has also traveled both domestically and internationally to dance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the American College Dance Festival, and the Kansas Dance Festival.
Erica served as both the Assistant Director of the AMB School Ensemble and the Founding Director of Bellevue Dance Academy's Performance Company, where she created dozens of original works for students. Additionally, she has choreographed for Seiche Dance Collective, pianist Mia Vassilev, the inaugural Indy Dance Festival, and Omaha's early music ensemble Cantare!.
In 2024, she produced and choreographed a full-length production entitled Of Darkness and Dreams as part of the Omaha Fringe Festival, which was reviewed as an experience that "...beautifully dances you through a range of human emotions and connections."
She has also led multiple dance outreach projects and loves to incorporate the knowledge she possesses as a 200-Hour Certified Yoga Instructor into her work, encouraging all she encounters to find their best flow through life.
Follow Erica on social media:
Instagram & YouTube: @ericalohman22
Dance2Connect
Dance2Connect is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making dance education and performance opportunities accessible to the Indianapolis community. Co-founded by Makenzie Lukas, Dance2Connect was born from a deeply personal mission. Makenzie and her sister Macey experienced firsthand the financial barriers that keep so many from pursuing dance. That experience sparked a vision: no one should be turned away from the joy of dance because of their circumstances.
Dance2Connect offers free and low-cost dance classes, scholarships, and performance opportunities to individuals and families who face economic barriers. The organization meets students where they are, providing not just instruction, but also community support, mentorship, and a welcoming space where every dancer belongs.
By removing financial obstacles, the organization ensures that the transformative power of dance is within reach for all members of the Indy community, regardless of income. Through partnerships with local studios, schools, and community centers, Dance2Connect is building a future where every child and adult who dreams of dancing has the chance to do so.
Follow Dance2Connect on social media:
Instagram: @dance.2connect
Facebook: Dance2Connect2
Jennifer Kathleen Sutton
Contemporary Avant Guard Solo Dance Artist
Follow Jennifer on social media:
YouTube.com/jenniferksutton
Jennifer Kathleen Sutton @ Facebook
Zay
Multidisciplinary aimed at building a better world through art.
Follow Zay on Instagram: @zay.mango
King Koi Roi
King Koi Roi, also known as Cuong Tran, is a prominent street dancer from Indiana, recognized for his expertise in styles like popping, animation, tutting, and waving. With over 11 years of experience, he is a key member of the local dance community, participating in numerous competitions both nationally and internationally. He has competed in various countries, including Ireland, Japan, and Canada, showcasing his talent on a global stage. King Koi Roi is not only dedicated to his craft but also passionate about the history of street dance, honoring the pioneers who have influenced the art form. His contributions to the dance scene have made him a respected figure among peers and aspiring dancers alike.
Follow King Koi Roi on social media: @king.koi.roi
Indianapolis Movement Arts Collective (IMAC)
IMAC provides a home for a variety of movement practices and offers classes, workshops, and opportunities for dancers and movement artists to connect and perform.
Its programming spans traditional dance styles as well as movement, fitness, and somatic practices, creating an accessible environment for people with a wide range of movement backgrounds. IMAC also partners with other local arts organizations to provide performance and community opportunities.
Follow IMAC on social media: @indymovementarts