opportunities
join our
team
join our team
Join our dynamic Team and engage in our inspiring mission to impact the lives of children and our community. At KDO, we don’t just uplift your personal and professional journey, but actively cultivate and value it, unlocking exciting opportunities for growth and development!
We invited the Artists of the KDO Teaching Team to share their reflections, stories, and perspectives on what it means to be a KDO Teaching Artist and on their experiences through the mission. We captured their stories in this short but impactful video series.
Current Opportunities
No positions available at this time.
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Kids Dance Outreach is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate uniqueness and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. KDO serves children of all backgrounds and abilities. We firmly believe in and have witnessed the power of the Arts as a catalyst for change. Together, we continue to seek innovative ways to effect change in our community and the world through our mission and strive to be part of that change. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
KDO TEACHING ARTISTS
DANCE TEACHERS
Kelvin Burzon
Austin Day
Ashley Donaldson
Sadie Gelb
Naomi Jackson
Michael J. Johnson
Mónica M. Muñoz
Harlie Stinson
Mary Lyn Wolf
MUSICIANS
Allan Adifils Dit Etienne
Reggie Bishop
Brian Carson
Jeffrey DeHerdt
Mina Keohane
Michael Kessler
Vernon Marsh
Doran Nash
Dustin Phillips
Michael Read
Kathy Ryan
WHO WE reach
KDO In-School Programs reach elementary-age children in public and charter schools throughout Marion County, where Indianapolis is located. The KDO Advanced Scholarship Programs are composed of students from the In-School and Summer Programs, with offerings for students up through eighth grade. With a commitment to providing high-quality dance education to all children, all KDO programs are inclusive for children with physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities. The Dancers with Disabilities Programs offer further opportunities specifically designed for children with disabilities to learn and grow in a safe and joyful environment. Nearly 2,000 children participate in KDO each year.
To date, more than 26,000 children have experienced the transformative power of the arts through KDO’s high-quality dance programs.
While every KDO program mirrors its own community, overall, KDO programs reach a population that reflects Marion County. While we recognize that statistics can’t capture the full extent of our community, particularly regarding the experience of our youth, it is essential to contextualize the environment in which our programs take place.
Current statistics for Marion County show that:
- 36% of families are designated as Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE, 2024) — households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) but cannot afford the basic cost of living in their county (United Way);
- 21% of youth live below the poverty line (Indiana Youth Institute – IYI, 2025);
- While the Indianapolis Public School district currently offers all meals free of charge for families, 69.7% of families would be eligible for free or reduced lunch (NICHE, 2024);
- As over 65% of youth in Marion County identify as racial or ethnic minorities (IYI, 2025), KDO reaches students from all different racial and ethnic backgrounds, particularly those who identify as Hispanic, Black, and Multiracial.
how we teach
As an Associate of National Dance Institute (ANDI), Kids Dance Outreach’s Teaching Artists are trained in and inspired by the NDI Method®, a renowned arts education pedagogy developed by National Dance Institute. Through this approach, KDO utilizes accessible movement vocabulary, live music, and joyful, rigorous instruction to promote structure, discipline, focus, empathy, and self-confidence. At the heart of this work is a commitment to belonging, acceptance, and celebrating each child’s unique strengths while building community.
While the NDI Method® serves as the guiding framework for KDO’s teaching approach, all program content, curriculum, and choreography are thoughtfully developed and adapted by KDO’s Team to meet the unique needs of the students and communities we serve. Under the direction of Founding Artistic Director Michael J. Johnson, KDO draws upon the expertise, artistic perspectives, and diverse cultural influences of our Teaching Artists to create engaging, relevant, and impactful learning experiences. Learn more about KDO’s Team!
associate of national dance institute (andi)
In a significant stride beyond our local community partnerships, KDO proudly assumed the role of the Indiana Associate of the National Dance Institute of New York (ANDI) in 2018. This distinction places KDO as the sole program in Indiana and one of a select few, numbering about a dozen, in the entire country. As an Associate of the National Dance Institute, Kids Dance Outreach’s Teaching Artists are trained in and inspired by the NDI Method® and participate in ongoing professional development, mentorship, and artistic exchanges with NDI educators, frequently engaging in training, collaborations, and exchanges led by NDI. National Dance Institute (NDI) is a non-profit arts education organization founded in 1976 by ballet star Jacques d’Amboise. Under the artistic direction of Kay Gayner and a staff of professional Teaching Artists, NDI uses dance and music to instill in students a love of the arts, a passion for learning, and a desire to strive for their personal best.
Courtesy National Dance Institute — KDO Teaching Artist Kelvin Burzon participating in NDI Teacher Training, 2023.