OUTLET was developed in 2013 and started in 2014 by Katrina Rathbone and Leslie Spear who were passionate about creating a place for adults to take weekly classes, rehearse choreography, and perform without having to travel to the city.

 

Outlet is a performing dance company, not a studio.  We offer technique classes in a variety of styles for dancers whose schedule, age, or budget does not allow them to commit to a full time company or regular studio classes.  Our members are all moderate to advanced level adult dancers (looking to "get back in to dance" or "keep up with their technique").  Unlike typical studio classes, the style, instructor and/or choreographer changes week to week, and dancers are able to perform in multiple styles of choreography while only committing to one weekly rehearsal.

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The OUTLET dance company is made of up 3 branches:  Outlet NORTH, SOUTH & WEST.

• West branch - Tuesdays (8:00 - 10:00pm) in Elk Grove Village

• North branch - Wednesdays (8:00 - 10:00pm) in Elk Grove Village

• South branch - Sundays (6:00 - 8:00pm) in Westmont

While the branches rehearse separately, they all come together for our concert performance at the end of the season.  The addition of our branches was created to open up even more opportunities for dancers looking to be a part of the company, as well as a chance for our current members to take more classes, work with new artists... or just get to dance more each week!

 

What really makes OUTLET different from other companies?

Outlet creates a place for all members to dance, but also gives the opportunity to take on different roles as a choreographer, technique instructor, or rehearsal assistant or pursue other outlets such as social media, social events, costumes,  fundraising, marketing, etc.  Beyond the opportunities offered, it's honestly the vibe of the company that makes us what we are.  Of course we take dancing seriously when it comes to the training, the choreography, the performances, etc., but if our dancers don't leave the studio happy... what's the point?  We encourage laughter, we lift each other up when things get tough, and we do everything we can to make this company a true 'outlet' for everyone.

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F.A.Q.'s about OUTLET:

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Are all members adults?

Yes.  Members must be at least 21 to audition.  Our current members age range is 23 to 45.

"You don't stop dancing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop dancing."

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How much does it cost to be a member?

The membership fees change slightly depending on the season, but have always been between $5-$10 a week.  Fees are determined based on the length of the season, rental costs for the studios & performance venue, as well as the number of members.  For our current season (Jan-Sept) the total fee was $250 for the season; This covers all costs including costumes, and members are not held responsible for any minimum ticket sales for the concert.

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How much commitment is required of members?

 We put a high emphasis on attendance at our weekly classes/rehearsals - which are only 2 hours a week.  Social events, fundraisers, or other performances outside the concert are always highly encouraged, but never mandatory to attend.  Our tech rehearsals and concert performances are mandatory for all members.  This includes 2 days of tech/dress rehearsals the week of the show (typically 6-11pm) and 2 performance days (typically 3-9pm on Sat and 10am-5pm on Sun).  All mandatory dates are given on the contracts at the start of the season.

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How do the different branches work?

Each branch rehearses separately and has their own selection of choreography for the concert.  We do have select members who are 'Dual Members' that participate in two branches, which means they get 4hrs of class/rehearsals each week and are eligible to be cast in more numbers in the concert performance.  We also encourage members to get involved in the other branches as much as possible - either to pop in to take class, teach a class, understudy choreography or set choreography with another branch.

The opportunity to be a 'Dual Member' depends on the season and the capacity of each branch to take in additional members.  Our current branches this season have 25-27 members dancing in each one.

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Are all members able to set choreography for the concert?

We offer the opportunity for all members to submit choreography concepts for our concert performance.  The board members review all submissions to decide on the choreography to set on each branch.  While we have worked with guest choreographers outside the company, we always want to give the opportunity to our members first.

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Do you offer walk-in classes?

We do not offer regular walk-in classes as our schedule changes week to week between technique class & rehearsals, however we have offered specific dates for open classes to dancers outside the company in the past.  Typically this opportunity would happen during our off-season (during the fall).  The best way to find out about these classes is to follow us on social media (Facebook or Instagram).

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When are auditions held?

We hold auditions for each season, typically around one month after the close of our concert performance.  This season's performance will be held Sept 6th & 7th, so auditions for Season 12 will likely be in October 2025.  If you are interested in auditioning and would like to be notified, please sign up to join our email list.  We also highly suggest attending our concert to get a feel for who the company is and what we're all about if you are planning to audition.

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How can I audition for the company?

Dancers are asked to fill out a short audition form online which inquires about past training, what you're looking to get from joining the company, what opportunities you're interested in besides dancing, such as choreography, teaching, etc.  We also tend to throw in a few questions just for funsies, like 'If you could choose any superpower, what would it be?' - because we honestly love to see the answers (and it gives us a feel for your personality before we get a chance to meet).

Depending on the number of dancers auditioning, we may offer in-person auditions by invitation only.