Andrew Cook
Dancer, UK
Evidence of Relative Skills
The main skills I have garnered over my training include my ability to push farther and train harder than otherwise possible, my performance abilities on stage, my social skills, and my partner work.
My Push
My primary and most powerful skill has been my ability to push the boundaries of self-improvement, and to be able to take criticism and use it only to improve. Due to my late start as a dancer I suffered from my lack of physical capability during my weekly class at my local dance school. After I applied to another local (but highly prestigious) academy for more lessons, I was refused on the grounds that I would be physically unable to earn a place at a ballet school, let alone “make a career as a dancer”. This first refusal meant I had to learn to accept criticism, move on, and make up for 12 years of not dancing in just 2. This motivation worked, and now after 3 years of full-time training, my attitude towards hard work is still one of my best assets.
My People Skills
Another skill of mine, which I believe is underrated, and actually links in with performance, is my ability to work within a company. The skill to work in an environment with people you are going to have to partner, or fight with, or dance in perfect synchronicity with is an important one any company member would have to have. As you don’t know what roles and relationships the future may have in store for you, you can’t afford strife between dancers. I learned these social skills within my training, and during tours. I learned how to accept that people may get stressed, how to let words wash over me, and how to allow them time to apologise. I learned to maintain my resolve as a company member when roles were passed over me and onto someone else. This also allowed me to learn about friendly competition between rivals in the company, but remaining friends on the outside.
My Performance
My other main skill is my ability to perform. This seems to be a highly underrated skill in many people’s opinions, however it has been my experience watching professional performances, that it’s the dancers who perform more, rather than the ones who have technical perfection, that get the loudest applause and the standing ovations. This skill is something that I trialled and tested by firstly watching guest artists in class over and over again. Learning how they treated every single class as a performance, not simply a chore. That way, when they appeared on stage, it was simply like another regular day for them. This learning curve continued when it came to Ballet West Scotland’s annual tours. I was one of a few lucky enough to take part in these tours and even land soloist roles. Other experiences include performing on stage at Disneyland Paris, but no matter the style of performance, the time spent on stage, learning how to commit yourself, and perform until the end was invaluable.
My Partnering
Physically, my greatest asset is my ability to partner. I learned this throughout all kinds of dance performances during my training. I learned early, that a good partner also has to be a considerate partner. I always managed to study my partners movements, to try to ascertain what it would be like for she or he to feel like, and to understand what they would want if I was in their position. These are all pointers and techniques I developed during both student-rehearsed performances, and in Ballet West Scotland's annual ballet tours, allowing myself to perform such pas de deuxs as the Arabian from Nutcracker, and the Spanish Neapolitan and Pas de Trois fromSwan Lake.