Cheers echoed through the audience at the annual “Windfall Cabaret” showcase Sunday at the Switchyard Park Pavilion. Hosted by Windfall Dance Company, the evening brought together a diverse lineup of performers, including Dark Side Troupe, One2One Team K-Pop, Bette Lucas Belly Dance and Flamenco, UNi.SON, InMotion and Ballet Folklórico de IU, all sharing the stage to celebrate movement in its many forms.
Founded in 1978, the Windfall Dance Company is a modern dance collective and nonprofit that embraces a wide range of ages and artistic styles, fostering creativity and connection within Bloomington’s dance community. The organization offers classes, community performances and rental studio spaces for Bloomington dance groups.
Windfall Dance Company has staged the annual production for 10 years, welcoming a variety of groups to share their work.
Virginia Hoeges, a long-term member of Dark Side Troupe, said she values that all ages can be preform in “Cabaret” productions. Dark Side Troupe has performed at Windfall’s "Cabaret" since its inception and regularly rents rehearsal space from the nonprofit.
“I think, when you get older and you've never danced before, it can be very intimidating, but there's no age to start dancing,” Hoeges said. “If it’s something that you want to do, you should just try it, and Windfall is the perfect environment for that.”
Windfall also promotes a wide variety of styles and cultural traditions. This year’s showcase featured performances ranging from Egyptian-inspired movement and Mexican folklore to K-pop choreography and modern dance.
In-Motion Dance Company President Lora Simakova said she values the mutual support and collaboration among the different groups each year.
“I think that it's very important to have a wider breadth of knowledge and experience of dance and style," Simakova said. “I know even just today, I've learned from another dance organizations, and I hope that they're able to learn from us.”
Windfall’s company coordinator, Utam Moses, helps organize performances like “Cabaret” that welcome groups from across southern Indiana. Moses said cost can often be a barrier for dancers and organizations, but events like this one help remove that obstacle.
“There's a barrier, especially for dance putting on a show because it's so expensive to rent a space and the cost of rehearsal spaces," Moses said. “But if we put it on, then invite groups that wouldn't be able to rent a space on their own and just offer these spaces for art and performance to happen in our community without, like, this barrier of entry.”
While performing, each group received its loudest applause from the other dancers in the audience.
Kay Olges, president of the board of directors for the Windfall Dance Company, has been involved with the organization for more than 30 years and said she especially enjoys the “Windfall Cabaret” for its sense of community and connection from different dance groups.
“All the groups ignite each other; dance and movement are forms of communication,” Olges said. “It allows us to speak the same language. It makes people more aware of others in the community.”
