On Fri, July 1st, Inlet's Summer Dance Intensive (SDI), housed at Playhouse Square again this summer, provided a Sneak Peak into what the SDI students and the Inlet Trainee & Apprentice dancers are collaboratively creating with Inlet's Company Members. Audience members learned a bit about the process and got to see new works in progress as the full ensemble prepares for the annual free performances at Cain Park Evans Amphitheater July 27 & 28th. 

The Cain Park performances will consist of three works created for the students, an improvisation performance including all students, Trainees, Proteges, Apprentices, and Company Members, an ensemble piece  created on the Inlet Trainee & Apprentice Program dancers, a work specifically for the Apprentices, and the Company Members will perform two works from their repertory. You don't want to miss this show! For more information on Inlet's Summer Dance Intensive  click here!  If you're interested in attending the performances at Cain Park Evans Amphitheater,  visit their website!

On July 9 & 10, Inlet performed downtown at the grand opening for the new Public Square remodeling project. The official center of Downtown Cleveland, Public Square was recently renovated by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance. 

Inlet performing improvisations at Public Square, Downtown Cleveland.

Continuing their downtown performances, on Jul. 16 Inlet was contracted to help welcome the Republican National Convention to Cleveland! Inlet continued performing improvisation each day at Public Square and our "Blue Otters" are making evening appearances throughout the RNC week. On Thursday, July 21, all of the SDI students, Inlet Trainees, Proteges, Apprentices, and Company Members performed in an ensemble performance in Public Square 11am-2pm. 

Inlet's Blue Otters making appearances downtown for the Republican National Convention.

Pandemonium 2016: The Fire Within

Cleveland Public Theatre's annual fundraising extravaganza and "Party of the Year" transforms the CPT campus into a labyrinth of theatre, dance, visual art and performance in every corner. Tickets are all-inclusive, featuring fabulous local food, free valet and complimentary drinks served all night long. A feast for the eyes, mind, appetite and imagination - Pandemonium proceeds benefit CPT's groundbreaking artistic work and life-changing education programs. 

Inlet has performed at Pandemonium for many years and is definitely a highlight performance of the season! For tickets to this event,  click here!

Inlet Company Members performing the premiere of "Fire" at Cleveland Public Theatre's DanceWorks 2015.

On August 5, Inlet will be performing once more at MetroHealth hospital. This performance i s a part of MetroHealth's Arts and Medicine Programming.  The concert is FREE and will be performed in the Rotunda, near the Emergency Room.

Inlet performing "Snow" at MetroHealth hospital in 2015.

On August 11 at 8:30 p.m. Inlet will take the stage for the fourth year as part of the Arts in August in Tremont's Lincoln Park. The mission of Arts in August is to expose the people of Tremont, Greater Cleveland, and Cuyahoga County to the beauty and positive influence of the arts,   free of cost!  Arts in August is a unique performance series. The four presenters include three nonprofits and a City Councilman; a true collaboration of unique partners. The four partnering presenters aim to specialize in building community in both the social and physical realms.  Tremont West, LAND Studio, Cleveland Public Theatre and Councilman Kerry McCormack hold values in community and know the value in bringing the community together. What better way is there to bring a community together but around the arts! Lincoln Park, located at W. 14th and Starkweather in the heart of Tremont, is the perfect venue for this signature outdoor performance series. Having steadily grown since 2002, Arts in August attracts thousands of residents and visitors each year. 

Inlet performing "Hotu Matua" (an excerpt from "Center of the Earth") at Arts in August in Tremont, 2015

On August 12 Inlet Dance Theatre returns for the second time to The Grove Amphitheater in Mayfield Village at 7:00 p.m. The performance will include audience members engaging in a fun-filled movement class on stage! Then, the company will perform repertory celebrating with this last concert performance of our 15th season! 

Inlet in performance of "Earth" at The Grove in Mayfield Village, 2015

Inlet is coming to the close of our fifteenth season. I've been doing a lot of reflecting on these last 15 years as I'm watching the next phase of the company's development open up before us all. I keep thinking about the incredible number of individuals over the years that we've had the privilege to pour into and how we've watched as people's lives have dramatically transformed. We've intentionally served our community being mindful to include a multigenerational reach that is also inclusive of lower, middle, and upper classes-often intentionally putting this spectrum of age and class into studios and theaters together. Feedback we've gathered communicates clearly to us that the mentoring and engagement programming we conduct is meaningful. Mastery based education initiatives in which students experience creating, evaluating, performing and connecting dance to their everyday lives results in paradigm shifts. "Using dance to further people" engages people's imaginations, creativity, hope and empathy. It is amazing to observe how this idea is positively impacting lives in our and other communities.  It is exciting to see the scope of our performing and educating programming grow exponentially and to realize that we are exporting Cleveland made work in increasing ways.  It is not easy, but it is worth it.  I am humbled by it all and ever so thankful.