Ambo Dance Theatre

Help Launch the Kentucky Dance Festival

Today, your gift can help put Kentucky on the national dance map.

We’re raising $10,000 to launch the Kentucky Dance Festival—an expansion of our beloved NACHMO showcase, reimagined as a three-day celebration of creativity, connection, and community. More than a performance series, it’s Kentucky’s only regional contemporary dance festival—and a chance to shape the future of dance across the Commonwealth.

Why It Matters

Contemporary dance is too often out of reach—especially for small towns, emerging artists, and under-resourced communities. At the same time, Kentucky produces incredible dance talent but retains very little of it. Too many professionals feel forced to choose between staying close to home and pursuing the careers they deserve. The Kentucky Dance Festival changes that by creating statewide access and a platform where artists can thrive without having to leave the state.

The Kentucky Dance Festival will:

• Amplify underrepresented voices and bring dance to new communities across Kentucky

• Give students, emerging artists, and companies & studios of all sizes a statewide platform to shine

• Provide paid opportunities for local dancers, choreographers, and technicians

• Build long-term creative infrastructure that fuels cultural and economic growth

• Spotlight Kentucky on the national stage as a hub for contemporary dance excellence

From Local Roots to Statewide Reach

Last year, our Kentucky NACHMO Festival experienced a 46% growth, featuring 121 performers from 12 groups and doubling our audience engagement. The NACHMO format is invaluable for sparking artistry and experimentation—but it isn’t always accessible for under-resourced groups. That’s why we’re splitting NACHMO into its own event while launching the Kentucky Dance Festival as a larger, more accessible statewide platform.

With your help, the festival will include:

• Two professional evening concerts

• A student showcase featuring dancers from schools and private studios

• Artist workshops 

• Outreach to rural and underrepresented communities

• A larger, more prestigious venue to match our growing impact

Help Us Reach $10,000—Today Only

Your gift helps fund venue rental, outreach, and marketing—the essential pieces that make this dream real. Every donation brings us closer to launching something Kentucky has never had before.

Ambo Dance Theatre is a Louisville-based nonprofit making dance radically accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all bodies, identities, and backgrounds.