Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre will bring visual art, live music and powerful storytelling together for “Art in Motion!,” an ambitious 29th season filled with world premieres, returning favorites and immersive collaborations.

From a dystopian reimagining of the Salem witch trials to a vibrant celebration of Indian culture, the 2026–27 season reflects the Carmel-based company’s commitment to creating dance experiences that move audiences emotionally while supporting the local arts community.

The season’s visual identity also lives up to its name. Each concert poster will draw inspiration from a famous visual artist, merging images of the company’s dancers with distinctive artistic styles. The Season 29 campaign begins with dancer Josie Moody, photographed by Lydia Moody, in an image inspired by the work of Maxfield Parrish.

The company will also continue spotlighting Central Indiana artists through its interactive Mélange Series at The Florence Black Box Theatre.

A Futuristic Witch Hunt Begins the Season

The mainstage season opens Oct. 23–24 at The Tarkington with the world premiere of “Salem: This Time, the Witch Hunt is Trending.”

Created through a collaboration among Gregory Hancock, Cory Gabel and emerging musical artist Seager, the original story ballet transports audiences into a gothic American future. In this dystopian society, conformity is rewarded, individuality is punished and accusations of “bewitchment” are used to silence independent thought.

Citizens are encouraged to monitor one another as people become increasingly separated from nature, their communities and even their authentic selves. Against this atmosphere of control, a young woman finds the courage to resist.

The production acknowledges the 400th anniversary of Salem, Massachusetts, while exploring how fear, surveillance and persecution could take new forms in the future. Seager will compose original music for the premiere.

The program will also feature the world premiere of “Ophelia,” inspired by the doomed character from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” With choreography by Hancock and a commissioned score by GHDT Composer in Residence Cory Gabel, the work follows Ophelia’s descent into madness through a demanding showcase of dramatic dance.

Rounding out the evening is the return of “La Llorona,” a visually striking interpretation of the Mexican legend of the weeping woman condemned to wander for eternity following the loss of her children.

A New Holiday Tradition at The Florence

GHDT will celebrate the season’s many traditions with “Winter Fest: A Celebration of the Winter Global Holidays,” presented Dec. 5–6 and Dec. 12–13 at The Florence.

The production will explore St. Nicholas Day, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Santa Lucia Day, Las Posadas, the Winter Solstice, Hanukkah and Christmas through dance, creating a holiday experience centered on global unity.

After each performance, audiences can meet the dancers during Cookies & Cocoa in the theater lobby. Admission includes holiday cookies and a hot cocoa bar.

Located near the Carmel Christkindlmarkt and the lights of Carmel City Center, “Winter Fest” offers families an opportunity to pair an afternoon or evening of dance with the city’s other seasonal attractions.

Murder and Mystery in Old Hollywood

“The Black Dahlia” returns to The Florence from Feb. 6–21, inviting audiences into the shadowy nightclubs and back alleys of old Hollywood.

The audience favorite is inspired by the life and unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, an aspiring actress whose death became one of the most infamous crimes of the Silver Screen era.

GHDT’s noir-style reimagining follows Short from her hometown to Hollywood, where promises of fame give way to deceit, danger and treachery. Colorful characters and cinematic settings surround a central mystery that challenges audiences to determine what happened to the woman remembered as the Black Dahlia.

Dance, Music and Spoken Word Come Together

On April 9–10, 2027, GHDT returns to The Tarkington for “Remembrance: Where Have You Been? Where Are You Going?”

The multimedia production will unite dance, live music and spoken word in a reflection on the connections shared across cultures and communities. Its centerpiece will be a world-premiere collaboration featuring accomplished instrumentalists, vocal artists and multiple performance forms.

“Remembrance” will also bring back “Don’t Sit at the Corner of the Table,” a charming work inspired by Eastern European superstitions, along with the critically acclaimed “Beyond These Gates the Land Groans.”

The program examines the experiences that shape humanity’s collective past while looking toward a more connected global future.

A Colorful Journey Through India

Season 29 concludes June 11–12, 2027, at The Tarkington with “A Night in India: No Passport Needed.”

Drawing from decades of GHDT works inspired by India’s stories, music and culture, the production promises a colorful and joyous journey shaped by Hancock’s personal and professional travels throughout the country.

The concert will also feature the Central Indiana premiere of a work commissioned for the National Telugu Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Designed as an ambassador for culture and movement, “A Night in India” will transport audiences through the beauty and complexity of the region without leaving Carmel.

Artists Create Together in The Mélange Series

GHDT’s intimate Mélange Series returns to The Florence Sept. 12–13, Nov. 14–15, March 13–14 and May 15–16.

Each performance brings together three artists working in different disciplines: a vocalist or musician, a dancer and a visual artist. As the vocalist performs, the dancer creates spontaneous movement inspired by the music. At the same time, the visual artist creates an original piece influenced by both the sound and movement.

The result is an evolving work created live before the audience, making each performance unique. The Florence’s intimate black-box setting allows guests to experience the creative process up close and become part of a communal artistic exchange unlike any other in Central Indiana.

Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre is the resident professional dance company at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Season tickets and additional information are available at gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org