Inlet’s New Board of Trustees Chair – Venetia Whatley

But it wasn’t just the popularity of being in the dance program that Venetia responded to. Being in the dance program allowed her to “take up space.” The dance program encouraged her to take up space as an intellect, as a young woman, and as an emerging artist! One of the Improvisation games that Alison Chase and Bill Wade developed together is called “Space Walk.” In this game, dancers move around the stage space at various speeds and levels all with the same goal of making the space feel full. But to Venetia, this game made her feel full. She felt needed and powerful but still humble knowing she was part of something larger than just her.

After graduation, Venetia performed professionally with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and Cleveland Contemporary Dance Company for 4 years until she joined the military. While serving for 12 years, Venetia often reflected on how the ideas she learned in dance translated to the other aspects of her life. She would invite other service members to take part in Improvisation games like “Space Walk” and “NEWS” (A game where established leaders move slow enough for the followers to replicate the moves at the same time. When done well, an audience would think it was choreographed). Using these games as development tools reaped many benefits including the reinforcement that Venetia’s dance training would continue to be in the forefront of her mind.

Thanks to social media, Venetia and Bill never lost touch and in 2020, Venetia visited an Inlet rehearsal. At the time Inlet was rehearsing at Ignite Dance Studio in Medina, OH and Venetia mentioned driving away thinking how ironic that studio’s name was in relation to what her visit meant — her visit re-ignited the spark of why Bill’s work is so important to her and needed in the world. Even though more than 20 years had passed and both Bill and Venetia were in very different stages of their life, one thing still remained and that was the need to “take up space.”

At the start of this season (Inlet’s 21st season), Inlet’s Board of Trustees Chair of 20 years, Matt Anderson, respectfully resigned and Bill saw an opportunity. Venetia was nominated to be the new Chair, the board voted, and it was unanimous. Admittedly, Venetia was a little shocked at the decision but she knew there was trust. She knew that the Founder & Exec/Artistic Director trusted her with this responsibility and she knew her faith secured her. Venetia accepted the appointed position with intent to further Bill’s legacy and also lead this tribe of individuals who supported the organization’s mission.

Venetia has many goals as Chair, but her main focus for this season is to increase how Inlet’s Board of Trustees can combine their individual creativity to … you guessed it, “take up space.” Knowing that she is newer to Inlet’s Board, she relies on board members to bring their individual strengths to the table. Then, she can lean into guiding those strengths out into the community. Venetia is inspired by the other Board Members and encouraged by the amount of potential she sees in the Board as a whole.

What is perhaps most exciting is how she intends to make this happen. She plans to go back to her training from CSA. By using the very Improvisation exercises that Venetia learned from Bill in the 4th grade, she plans to engage the Board Members in a new way. Bringing the Board Members into the studio to create and move together will hopefully unite them in a way that only dance can. It’s important to Venetia that Inlet always stays true to its mission of “…using dance to further people,” including furthering those making decisions on behalf of the organization. She mentioned, “Not only does everyone in the organization believe in the work, their heart is in it!”