Inlet Dance Theatre proudly celebrates its 25th anniversary season as one of Cleveland’s leading modern dance companies, recognized for its signature athletic partnering, innovative choreography, and deep commitment to community engagement. Established in 2001 by Founder and Executive Artistic Director Bill Wade, the company has grown into a nationally and internationally respected organization. Inlet’s upcoming milestone season features a commissioned world premiere, dynamic collaborations with artists from multiple disciplines, and the launch of a veteran storytelling project integrating dance and narrative to honor the lived experiences of military veterans and their families.
Among the season’s highlights is a commission from the Theatre for Young Audiences Tour Development Collective supporting the creation of What Do You Do With a Problem?, a new dance theatre adaptation of the New York Times best-selling children’s book by Kobi Yamada. As one of only four artists nationwide to receive this prestigious commission, the work is financially supported by seven performing arts centers across the United States. In addition, the creation of this work is also supported by Ohio Arts Council’s ArtsNEXT program. The second installment of the children’s series builds upon Inlet’s widely successful What Do You Do With an Idea? and reflects the company’s mission to create high-quality, developmentally appropriate, and accessible performances for children and families. Featuring choreography by Bill Wade in collaboration with Assistant Artistic Director Joshua Brown and the cast, and original music by composer Jeremy Allen, What Do You Do With A Problem? has earned booking representation by Holden Arts & Associates and will tour nationally beginning in Fall 2026.
Following the success of Inlet’s 2023 collaboration with The Cleveland Orchestra for their Family Concert, the company returns to Severance Hall this October for the Orchestra’s Music in Motion Education Series. Inlet will perform Carl & Ellie, a playfully physical portrayal of a lifelong love, set to Michael Giacchino’s moving score from Disney-Pixar’s Up. Also, on the program is Equals, a bold and physically demanding work newly reimagined to Manuel de Falla’s El amor brujo: Ritual Fire Dance.
The company is proud to launch Veterans’ Stories, a new multi-phase project supported by a National Endowment for the Arts’ Challenge America grant. Phase one of the project will begin with training for dancers and choreographers, who will collaborate with therapists and clinicians to create and lead trauma-informed, veteran-centered movement workshops. Subsequent phases will include interviews and workshops with veterans and their families, resulting in the creation of a full-length, multimedia dance theatre piece to be premiered within the next three years as part of Inlet’s repertoire. By integrating dance into existing support programs, this project aims to bring the power of movement to the forefront of healing for veterans and their families and expand Inlet’s capacity to serve these communities better.
“Inlet’s legacy has always been rooted in connection – between artists, between audiences, and between ideas,” said Founder and Executive Artistic Director Bill Wade. “This milestone season is not just a celebration of our past, but a launch into our future. We are continuing to create and perform with purpose, now on a larger scale.”
Inlet Dance Theatre performs annually at The Estuary in the Pivot Center, Cleveland Public Theatre’s DanceWorks Series, Playhouse Square, Cain Park, Tremont’s Lincoln Park, and the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival, among other local venues, and conducts regional and national touring. The organization reaches thousands of children and adults each year through established annual residencies at schools. In addition, Inlet offers community dance workshops in the underserved Clark-Fulton neighborhood and professional development for dance educators in Cleveland.
For more information about the 25th anniversary season, tour dates, or programs, visit www.inletdance.org.
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