The Directors.

Katrina and Leslie have been dancing together since the age of three! They worked together on countless stage productions and theater projects before finally deciding to set off on their own and create the Outlet Dance Company.

(...You could say this company was in the making for over 30 years!)

Katrina Rathbone

artistic director

Katrina began dancing at the age of three and continued her training for 25 years, receiving her bachelor’s degree in Dance Performance from Illinois State University.

She began dancing at the Pavilion Dance Center (Christy Smoot-Zepezauer), and eventually went on to dance with the Elk Grove High School Orchesis & R.D.T. (Lisette Rodriguez-Narang), b.i.s.i.-dance co (Lynn Zaro Arevalo), P.U.D. Dance Co (Ann Terschl Kurokawa), as well as the Illinois State Dance Theatre (Sara Semonis, Laurie Merriman, Greg Merriman, Darby Wilde, Rhythm McCarthy).

Her choreography background began in high school where she choreographed for the annual Orchesis concert as well as contributed choreography for the spring musicals & jazz choir groups. She continued to choreograph in college for ISDT as well as a movement director for actors & stage plays. After graduation she choreographed as a member of R.D.T. for their annual concerts & outreach community concerts, which she also directed & stage managed.

In 2010, Katrina was cast as a dancer in the feature film 'Leading Ladies' next to SYTYCD stars Benji Schwimmer, Kherington Payne, Katee Shean, Courtney Galiano & Sara VonGillern. She was also chosen as a choreographer and featured dancer in the music video 'Tonight' by Chicago Pop Artist Trixie Fender. In 2012, her choreography 'Cluttered' was performed by R.D.T. in the 2012 Dance Chicago showcase.

Katrina is lucky to have the support of her family & friends, including her mom & dad (who usher for every performance) as well as her husband (her number one fan). She is honored to be able to provide an outlet to so many other artists and is excited to watch the company continue to grow as the rehearsal director for both the North and West branches.

Leslie Spear
artistic director

Leslie began dancing at the age of four with Pavilion Dance Centre and continued her dance education with the Elk Grove High School Orchesis program. As a graduate of Purdue University, she spent four years as a dancer, choreographer, and committee member for the Purdue Repertory Dance Company. She received her degree in 2008 in French secondary education with minors in Spanish and Dance. She has teaching endorsements in each of her concentrations as well as Physical Education. Leslie founded the Huntley High School Orchesis program in 2008 and successfully initiated a dance curriculum in the district. Continuing to enrich her craft, Leslie earned her Master of Arts in Dance Education from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

Previously, Leslie’s choreography was performed at DANCE CHICAGO as a choreographer for the Rodriguez Dance Theater. As the driving forces behind the creation of Outlet Dance Company, it has been an honor for Leslie to continue to dance, teach, choreograph, and connect with adults that share her same passions. Leslie is excited to welcome all artists to Outlet!

In search of palm trees and sunshine, Leslie now resides in Tampa, Florida with her husband and two daughters. She currently teaches dance at an International Baccalaureate middle school, where she encourages young artists to explore their creativity.

Stephanie Farmer
assistant director

Stephanie Farmer is the Assistant Director of Outlet Dance Company and the Rehearsal Director of the South Branch. She has been involved with Outlet since 2015 as a company member, choreographer, and photographer. She is a Client Services Manager at GES Global and mother to two.

Previously, Stephanie was a choreographer and teacher at Lively Arts Dance Academy and the Pleasantdale Park District. She coached the Unity High School Varsity Dance team in Tolono, IL and assisted with the Centennial Varsity Dance Team in Champaign, IL. She is an alumna of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she danced with Legend Dance Company and served as treasurer and co-president. She attended Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, IL where she was a member of both the Eurythmic Dance Company and the Varsity Poms Team, serving as a co-captain and dancing with UDA in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and performing in multiple High School Dance Festivals; she was also a featured dancer in the Musical "Nefertiti" at Morton College.

Growing up she attended Peggy Arts Dance Academy and was a competitive dancer with Lively Arts Dance Academy. She has had the opportunity to dance under multiple choreographers including Dance for Life founder Keith Elliott and Jeff Hancock of Same Planet Different World.

Board Members.

We owe more than we can say to these amazing and dedicated women! They have put in so many extra hours to help us behind the scenes, pick up the slack, or make the tough decisions that keep Outlet running... even during a pandemic! It is not an understatement to say this company would not be what it is without them.