Jaffee & Hall Emerging Choreographer Award Submissions Now Open

At Dance Kaleidoscope, we believe the best way to strengthen our future is to build upon our distinguished past. Therefore, we have created the JAFFEE & HALL EMERGING CHOREOGRAPHER AWARD to honor the outstanding creative leadership of Cherri Jaffee, Artistic Director from 1977 to 1991, and Ginger Hall, Cherri’s Co-Artistic Director from 1985 to 1991.

Cherri and Ginger made it their mission to bring world-class contemporary choreography to Indianapolis audiences. Their ability to identify emerging talent brought Ohad Naharin (Batsheva Dance Company) and Lynne Taylor-Corbett (choreographer for the movie Footloose and the Broadway shows Titanic and Swing!) to our community, as well as many other sought-after choreographers.

This year, from over 110 national and international applicants, Dance Kaleidoscope selected Christa Smutek as our 2025/2026 JAFFEE & HALL EMERGING CHOREOGRAPHER. Dance Kaleidoscope premiered Christa’s Takbuhan as part of NOW Volume 2: Arresting Momentum in February 2026, at the Tobias Theater at Newfields.

The creation of the JAFFEE & HALL EMERGING CHOREOGRAPHER AWARD aligns with our vision for the future: a future that seeks to expand our artistic voice by hosting guest choreographers each season.

PREVIOUS JAFFEE & HALL AWARD WINNERS

2024/25 – Tsai Hsi Hung – Torch

2025/26 – Christa Smutek – Takbuhan