Betsy Acree-McClenahan, Director
Betsy Acree-McClenahan is the Artistic Director for Kaleidoscope Arts Project (KAP), a program of Imagination Celebration, as well as it’s resident dance company, Kaleidoscope Dance Project, a semi-professional company showcasing the Pikes Peak region’s premiere young dancers. With more than forty years of experience as a performer, choreographer, director and producer, Ms. McClenahan is passionate about the performing arts and is honored to have taught many students who are now working professionally with Ballet companies, cruise ships, television, regional theater and Broadway. When she is not at Celebration Place, she is an integral part of the team that presents the What If Festival of Innovation, is the Artist in Residence at CIVA Charter High School, and the choreographer for the Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale. KAP offers a variety of classes from pre-school through professional, children though adults. With her busy schedule, she still feels that her greatest accomplishment is as wife, mother and grandmother!
Instructors from Kaleidoscope have proudly been training students since 1978, and its alumni have appeared in productions of Sister Act (Broadway), The Addams Family (Broadway), Lion King (Broadway)The Producers (Las Vegas and first National Tour), Grease (Broadway), West Side Story (Broadway), Some Like It Hot (National Tour with Tony Curtis), The Sound of Music (International Tour), Wizard of Oz (National Tour with Ertha Kitt), American Gangster (movie), Martha Graham Dance Company, The Joffrey Ballet, State Street Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Disney (west and east coast), as well as many additional national tours, dance companies, cruise ships, and regional theaters.
Kaleidoscope truly believes that dance, music, theater and art are pivotal elements to a child’s development academically, creatively, and artistically. Research has shown that children involved in music are better in science and math while students involved in other aspects of the performing and visual arts are more proficient in areas of critical thinking, writing, public speaking, and sports.