Founded in 2001 by Executive/Artistic Director Bill Wade, Inlet embodies his belief that dance viewing, training and performing experiences may serve as tools to bring about personal growth and development. In 22 years, Inlet transformed from a small dance company with local impact into an organization that reaches people on an international level.

Inlet’s ensemble-based culture intentionally focuses on craftsmanship and mastery while employing a collaborative creative process in the development of new work. Inlet’s collaborative creative process is more inclusive than the traditional autocratic leadership hierarchy, resulting in work that is surprisingly diverse. Each piece in Inlet’s repertory is the direct result of the artists in the studio at the time the work was created, often including artists of other mediums.

All of Inlet’s repertory speaks creatively about human life issues and does so in a life-giving manner. The company presents a wide aesthetic range of works that speak to what could be, rather than only what is.

Finally, Inlet develops and teaches people from the inside-out in all of their design-centric programming. Performing and educating are viewed as two sides of the same coin and not separate entities unto themselves. Inlet engages people in dance making, allowing focus on technique acquisition, collaboratively creating new work, critical response, making connections, and performance skills.  Inlet’s technique foundations, rooted in American Modern Dance, include Erick Hawkins-based release technique, Alison Chase/Pilobolus-based nontraditional partnering, and structured improvisation. We use this unique process as a platform through which we provide personal transformation for everyone involved.

Inlet Dance Theatre’s impact has grown locally to internationally.  The company’s concerts, event services, Inflow and Outflow education programs began as local initiatives and now reach regional, national and international markets. Inlet performs annually at Cleveland Public Theatre’s DanceWorks Series, Playhouse Square, Cain Park Evans Amphitheater, among other local venues and conducts national touring.   Inlet has participated in numerous international artistic exchanges through The Cleveland Foundation’s Creative Fusion program and a two week residency exchange to Easter Island (made possible by the Ohio Arts Council, The Ohio Arts Foundation, Playhouse Square’s Education Department, the State Department and the American Embassy in Santiago, Chile). Inlet’s education programming includes teaching dance classes for all ages at The Music Settlement, attracting students from all over the country to our Summer Dance Intensive and our year-long Inlet Trainee & Apprentice Program, and conducting residencies throughout Ohio as part of the Ohio Arts Council’s Arts Learning Residency Program.

In contrast to an industry where people are often used to further dance, Inlet Dance Theatre is committed to using dance to further people.  Discover for yourself what makes Inlet unique.