The Creative Outlet Dance Center (“CODC”) is located in the heart of downtown Fairhope, Alabama. It has three professionally equipped studios, each with custom-designed sprung floors, full-length mirrors, three levels of ballet barres and a floating sound system. The complex has two parent waiting rooms, three dressing rooms, three bathrooms, and a courtyard along with covered side door for drop-off and pickup. The CODC is close to coffee shops, grocery stores, and Fairhopers’ Community Park.
Founded in Fairhope, Alabama, by Eugenia Lanaux (“Gina”) in 1978, Creative Outlet Dance Center offers fun, educational, and high-quality dance training. While dancing together, before beginning their teaching partnership in 1982, Gina Lanaux (Co-Owner and Co-Director), and Pagan Mosher (Co-Owner & Co-Director) came to realize they held the same unique dance education philosophy: Dance is not just for those who want a dance career. Everyone can benefit from dance, regardless of their levels of talent and physical abilities.
It is Gina and Pagan’s shared philosophy that dance is beneficial to everyone, regardless of their levels of talent and physical abilities. The mission of Creative Outlet Dance Center is, therefore, to give both children and adults an inspiring, educational, positive dance experience that develops a strong body, a positive body image, and a healthy self-esteem in a warm supportive environment.
Believing that dance is a performing art and not a competitive sport, Creative 
Outlet offers dance classes that stress correct technique and self-discipline, without the pressure of preparing for commercial dance competitions. They offer classes in Pre-Ballet, Ballet, Creative Ballet, Pre-Jazz, Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Tap, Acrobatic, Adults.
Their Children’s Dance Theatre (“CDT”), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is now in its 33rd year of bringing quality dance theatre productions to the Eastern Shore. Children’s literature brought to life! One of their past productions is the entertaining and imaginative dance interpretation of Jack and the Bean Stock that has all the classic elements: the loyal cow, the desperate mother, the ingenuous but resourceful Jack, the magical wizard, the terrifying giant and his gargantuan family, the bags of gold, the magic hen, the singing harp-and of course the amazing beanstalk. Great story, great theatre with every style of dance, Children’s Dance Theatre of Fairhope has it all!
The purpose of Children’s Dance Theatre is to produce highly creative and entertaining literature based Theatre/Dance productions for public and private schools. Recognizing that the school children of Fairhope and the county have little to no exposure to the performing arts and acknowledging the U.S. Department of Education’s position that high quality programs effectively integrating and enhancing arts instruction are increasingly important as students face the demands of the information age in the 21st century. Creating, performing, and responding to works of art builds creativity, self-confidence, and critical thinking skills – qualities central to success in school, work, and life. In addition to their performances, CDT loans their scenery, props, and costumes, including a floor covering for the stage, free of charge to area schools and churches.
Creative Outlet strives to give both dancer and family a positive dance experience. Not only do they offer great dance classes, but their Spring Recital is divided into four separate programs. Having shorter programs removes the stress for the dancers and their audience. Only modestly styled costumes and choreography are chosen for their dancers. It is their belief that children should be allowed to be children and perform as such. They charge only a reasonable fee for costumes, production, and admission.
Their spring production gives all of their students the chance to gain a positive stage experience. They charge only a reasonable fee for costumes, production, and admission to their “short and sweet” performance. Although participation is not required, every student is allowed and encouraged to take part, and most of them enjoy and look forward to this opportunity.
CODC offers middle and high school dancers an opportunity to audition for their resident company. Their Children’s Dance Theatre, produces original and highly successful fall productions that are presented for enthusiastic school audiences as well as the public.
After 3½ decades, they have too many proud moments coaching to choose from. Each instructor will have many great memories. Watching a child discover that she can achieve a new element of technique in class and dancers supporting each other in the process is always rewarding. Their dancers who have been granted acceptance to prestigious dance programs and those that have gone to college not to major in dance have all made for many proud moments.
In Pagan’s viewpoint, one of the biggest mistakes she sees dancers make is when they believe that they cannot improve their technique beyond a certain level. Also, thinking that even after poor attendance, they are still on the same level of their peers who attend every class.
Pagan’s goal this year for CODC is to continue to offer the best dance and performance experience to all off their dancers and their families.
Gina and Pagan started Creative Outlet Dance Center because they love dance and the benefits it imparts to those who pursue it. It was their mission to offer a different choice for the Eastern Shore dancers and their families.
If you would like more information about Creative Outlet Dance Center, visit their website at www.creativeoutletdance.com, call them at 251 928 9511. You can also “Like” them on Facebook, check them out on Google and connect with them on Instagram.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Pagan Mosher of Creative Outlet Dance Center.
Written By Cyndi Marziani
Owner
BDancewear.com
