Playhouse Square's 7th Annual International Children's Theater Festival featured live performances from around the world and fun activities to give children an enriching and unique live theater experience.  On May 7 & 8, I nlet brought to life the award-winning children's book "What Do You Do With An Idea?", written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Mae Besom. Under Artistic Director Bill Wade's leadership, Inlet performed several one-hour workshops engaging children and their families with bringing literature to life through movement, utilizing 'What Do You Do With An Idea?" as the platform for discovery. 

On May 12 &13, The Cleveland Foundation's Creative Fusion artist, Hui-Lin Chuang from Taiwan, in collaoraton with Inlet Dance Theatre proudly presented the premiere of "My Body Is Our Body," a collaborative dance and visual art based performance at SPACES. This performance incorporated visual art created by Lin after she viewed an informal concert of Inlet's work back in March. One of the comments Lin made was, "...it's like my body is our body" referencing the non-traditional partnering work Inlet uses. After seeing Lin's intricate and unique sketches, Inlet dancers began creating movement directly inspired by Lin's designs. In Taiwanese culture, the negative spaces in between solid structures are just as important as the structures themselves. Lin and Inlet decided to develop that concept deeper. In addition to Lin's 20+ laser cut wood designs being displayed throughout SPACES and Inlet's 6-movement piece, the use of shadows and light sources became a third entity in this evening of work.

Audiences experiencing Hui-Lin Chuang's artwork at the premiere of "My Body Is Our Body" Photo:  Stephen Bivens

May Performances 

On May 16, Inlet traveled to Delaware, Ohio to perform at Woodward Elementary. Inlet performed two back-to-back concerts for students in Kindergarten to 2nd grade, and 3rd grade to 4th grade. It only took two performance and already the students, teachers, and faculty were asking Inlet to come back! After lunch, Artistic/Executive Director Bill Wade taught a master class for the 3rd and 4th graders. Following that, the students performed what they learned for the teachers and parents in an after-school special presentation. 

Apprentice Kevin Parker leads the students at Woodward in an improvisational exercise.

The very next day, Tues. May 17, Inlet performed at Cleveland Clinic's 7th Annual Patient Experience Summit.  The Patient Experience Summit brings together patient experience leaders, healthcare CEOs, innovators, nursing leaders, policy makers, major stakeholders and industry experts who are committed to not just the patient or caregiver experience, but also the human experience.  The theme of this year's four-day, inter-professional conference was  Caring Transformed: Anytime. Anywhere . and featured expert speakers, panel discussions and workshops representing multiple healthcare professions and disciplines engaged in exploring innovative ways to create and sustain a human-centric environment. 

Inlet members performed non-traditonal partnering through the Cleveland Convention Center while "Ascension" was performed on stage. 

Inlet Company Members performing "Ascension".

On May 28, Artistic/Executive Director Bill Wade and Company Member Michelle Sipes will travel to Houston for Ad Deum's Summer Dance Intensive. Ad Deum is a professional modern/contemporary dance company based in Houston, Texas, directed by its founder Randall Flinn, who established the company in January 2000.   During the intensive, Bill will serve as faculty teaching classes throughout the day and Michelle will serve as a teaching assistant.  For more information, visit Ad Deum's  Summer Intensive. 

What's Next for Inlet?

On Jun e 4 , Inlet w ill be performing at Cleveland Play House's annual benefit--Cirque du Centenni al:A Modern Mas querade Ball.  Cleveland Play House, recipient of the 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award and founded in 1915, is America's first professional regional theatre. Throughout its rich history, CPH has remained dedicated to its mission to inspir e, stimulate and entertain diverse audiences in Northeast Ohio by producing plays and theatre education programs of the highest professional standards. Cleveland Play House celebrates its centennial while performing in three state-of-the art venues at Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland.  Click here  to purchase tickets for this event! 

June 11, Inlet will once again participate in Cleveland  Museum  of Art's Parade the Circle. For 26 years, the Cleveland Museum of Art has been bringing this FREE signature summer event to Greater Cleveland. University Circle comes alive with color, music, and art for all ages. International and national guest artists join Greater Cleveland artists, families, schools, and community groups in a spectacular display of bright costumes, giant puppets, stilt-dancers, handmade masks, and colorful floats. Circle Village, which includes activities, entertainment, and food, is presented by University Circle Inc. This year is special being Cleveland Museum of Art's Centennial year! Parade is at noon and runs rain or shine. 

Members of Inlet participating in Parade the Circle, 2015.

 

June 15-17 are AUDITIONS for Inlet Dance Theatre. June 15 also kicks off Inlet's Summer Dance Intensive (SDI '16) held at Playhouse Square. SDI '16 will run through July 29   including a FREE interactive children's matinee at Cain Park Evans  Amphitheater  on July 27  from  1-2pm  and a FREE evening performance featuring students from SDI '16, members form Inlet's Trainee & Apprentice Program, and Inlet Company Members on July 28 at 8pm . You can read more information on these events further in this issue and also on Inlet's website for SDI '16 and Cain Park.

Inlet's Summer Dance Intensive Cain Park concert, 2014.

This month, meet Emily Stonecipher-Koch. Emily is an Apprentice with the Inlet Trainee & Apprentice Program. This is Emily's second season with Inlet. Here is a little about her:

What is your dance/theatre background?

 

Why did you decide to join Inlet Dance Theatre this season?

This is my second season with Inlet Dance Theatre. I chose to return this season because of the great experience I had in Inlet's Trainee & Apprentice Program. Inlet is a large, loving bunch of people- they are full of generosity and are always looking for ways to give to others. After my first season I felt as though I had just scratched the surface of what I can learn from dancing with Inlet.
 

What do you hope to accomplish as a member of Inlet?

Almost every dancer remembers the moment they started to love dance- that initial spark. It could have been a dance performance, a festival, or a movie with dancing. To be able to give that spark to others is a special opportunity. I hope to help Inlet- through audience engagement- provide more of those opportunities to audience members, regardless of age. I would also love to see Inlet travel more and reach larger audiences!

And most importantly, why do you like to dance?

The physicality of dance gives physical proof and existence to people as thinking individuals, because dance without thought or intention often doesn't work. As the philosopher Descartes says, "I think, therefore I am", I can say that I dance, therefore I am. Just as everyone has a right to their existence, everyone has the right to dance. Dance can give expression to things that are indescribable or inaccessible in traditional spoken language. Body language is a language of its own and is often unintentional; dance makes it intentional and is therefore that much more powerful and expressive. Such a powerful tool can be used to change people's lives and their perception of the world; I know it changed mine.

Inlet's Summer Dance Intensive

SDI 2014 students and members of the Inlet Trainee & Apprentice Program rehearsing for their culminating performance at Cain Park Amphitheater.

Inlet members performing at the Ride the Rainbow Gala for Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Apr. 16, 2016.

Cast members from "What Do You Do With An Idea?" performing on Fox 8's "Kickin' it with Kenny" May 6, 2016.

Company Member Joshua Brown reading "What Do You Do With An Idea?" to the audience members at the International Children's Theatre Festival, May 7 & 8, 2016.  Photo:  Janet Macoska

 

Inlet posing in their artist's hoodies at Playhouse Square's International Children's Theater Festival, May 7 & 8, 2016.

Premiere of "My Body Is Our Body," a collaboration between Inlet and  Creative Fusion Artist Hui-Lin Chuang, May 13 & 14, 2016. Photo: Stephen Bivens

"My Body Is Our Body", May 13 & 14, 2016. Photo: Stephen Bivens