Dance Kaleidoscope 2025 was held on April 25–26, 2025, at the Viterbo University Fine Arts Center Main Theatre, and as always, it was a highlight of the semester. The event showcased the creativity and dedication of Viterbo’s talented dance students, with performances spanning from jazz to ballet, modern to tap. Each piece was a unique and dynamic expression of artistic vision, providing an unforgettable journey through the diverse world of dance.
Annie Voss, a second-year Musical Theatre major with a dance minor and a tech & design minor, was deeply involved in this year’s Dance Kaleidoscope. She described the event as a student-run production where the upperclassman dance minors get the chance to choreograph their own pieces with students from across campus and the conservatory. “Dance Kaleidoscope is a completely put together student production!” Voss said. “The upperclassman dance minors each get to choreograph a piece with students from campus and the conservatory, and if you are taking a class called ‘design aesthetics’ you get to design a number or even multiple numbers.”
Although Voss didn’t choreograph a piece this year, she had the chance to perform in two numbers that were a mix of hip-hop and jazz, styles she absolutely loved. She explained, “They were both super fun, and I can see myself doing that style when I choreograph in two years!”
The preparation for the show was intense. Voss practiced with dedication and discipline. “I practiced about once a week for both dances,” she said. “One was on Friday, and the other was whenever all three dancers were free.”
Rehearsals began early in the semester, and the dancers had plenty of time to perfect their routines. “We started practicing around the middle or first half of the semester,” Voss shared. The rehearsals weren’t just about learning the choreography—they also offered a chance for the dancers to experience different teaching styles. “We would often talk about what we would be learning, and then the choreographer would teach us part or the entirety of our dance and give notes,” Voss explained. “It was super cool to see other people’s teaching styles!”
For Voss, the preparation didn’t stop at scheduled practices. She spent much of her Easter break rehearsing on her own to make sure she was ready for the performance. “A ton of practicing with the other dancers as well as on my own. A lot of my Easter break was spent rehearsing the dances on my own since we started tech right when we got back,” she said.
Despite the long hours of practice, Voss felt incredibly proud of her work. “Honestly, I felt super proud of the work I did,” she said. “I was able to be in two dances as well as designing two other dances, and it was such a wonderful experience. The community within this show was so beautiful to see.”
Voss encouraged others to come out and support future performances: “Come see Dance Kaleidoscope in two years again and make sure to continue supporting the arts at Viterbo!” The success of Dance Kaleidoscope would not have been possible without the incredible support of the faculty. The event was coordinated by Shane Rhoades, Jen Brown, Chad Kolbe, Jason Underferth, and Teddy Eck, whose guidance helped bring the students’ creative visions to life.
Viterbo’s Dance Kaleidoscope never fails to impress, and with future shows like the 2025 event, the future of the program looks brighter than ever. Don’t miss the chance to experience the passion, talent, and community that makes this production so special.
