Long rehearsals, creative choreography, schedules and teamwork all lead to one moment: the Regatta stage. For groups such as The Moving Company and Xiphos, that stage is their finish line.
Performances begin at 10:45 a.m.—just 15 minutes after the first canoe race—and last until close at 4 p.m.
The Dog Costume Contest, Regatta Royalty and the stage with live entertainment all started in 2018 at the 10th running of the race.
From acapella, to music and dance there are many groups that perform at the Regatta in the current and years past.
Xiphos and The Moving Company have been preparing and performing at Regatta, making it their connection to campus and the communities they are in.
“Groups like this provide a community for students, to be able to see them on a bigger stage rather than meeting in our circle is important,” said Bethany Randolph, president of The Moving Company.
That sense of community comes from countless hours of dedication. Both The Moving Company and Xiphos practice three times a week, each rehearsal lasting about three hours.
Students balance up to nine hours of practice each week alongside classes, jobs and other commitments–all to deliver one polished performance on the Regatta stage. As Randolph put it, that commitment reflects a love of both the art and the community that surrounds it. For Xiphos Dance Crew, the event is both a showcase and a way to strengthen campus spirit.
“[Regatta] gives us exposure and the opportunity to perform and give a taste of what we have brewing for the rest of the semester,” said co-director Yna Petilos.
Fellow co-director Aspen Karns added, “For being known as a commuter campus, I feel like a lot of people would go to class and then leave, and I just think it’s really cool that for them to invite us—it creates a sense of community.”
That message is amplified online. CJ Hutchinson, a member of the Regatta Steering Committee, said that the official Regatta Instagram will highlight performances in the week leading up to the event, encouraging students to support their peers and discover new groups.
Regatta, along with Jagathon and Jagapalooza, is one of IU Indianapolis’ largest traditions. The event is not only about the boat races, but also about the students and organizations that turn the day into a celebration of campus life.
Performers help make Regatta into more than a competition on the water–they make it a gathering place where students, families and community members can experience what IU Indianapolis has to offer, both on the water and on the stage.
Both groups will be performing on Sept. 27 at Regatta. The Moving Company will be performing at 10:45 a.m., and Xiphos will be performing at 11:50 a.m. at the Regatta stage.
Finn Williams (they/them/she/her) is a senior double majoring in Media Arts and Science and Journalism and is a writer for The Campus Citizen. In their free time they enjoy cooking, dancing and motorsports.
From Al-Andalus to Indianapolis: The IU Indianapolis course bringing medieval Spain to Indy
By Salsabil F. Qaddoura | Dec. 3When considering the cultural forces that shape the modern world, few students immediately think of a society that thrived a thousand years ago on the Iberian Peninsula. Yet the history of Al-Andalus, or Arab Spain, remains one of the most influential periods in global intellectual development.
IU Indianapolis Environment and Society course helps in achieving sustainable solutions
By Ian Janke | Nov. 22On the morning of Oct. 17, 2025, Professor Owen Dwyer’s Environment and Society class gathered outside in the green space between Taylor Hall and the Social Work Building to do some tree planting. This is an eight week course and happened to be their last class.
REVIEW: Sticky Notes opens in the Campus Center – serving sweets and smiles
By Regina Graves | Nov. 20A new sweet shop called Sticky Notes has opened on campus this fall 2025, bringing students, staff and visitors a fun and uplifting place to enjoy desserts, candies and different pastries. Designed as both a dessert stop and mental recharge, the shop has quickly become one of many to go spots for students looking for something sweet and positive on campus.
