Since graduating as a professional dancer, I just started working full time in my third company in three years. This sounds like I’m the biggest a-hole in the industry that can’t hold on to a job, but it’s not (don’t know about the a-hole part, but the second part is wrong). All the changes of surrounding has been by my own wish. Now you might think I’m this kind of guy thats never satisfied and always thinks the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. That might be true, but I felt good in all the theaters I’ve been working in so far. The reason for my quite frequent changing of employers (however irrelevant to this post, but this is a blog, after all. Lets get personal) is mostly about chances, really – I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to learn to know different people, companies, theaters, cities and countries.

A side-effect of this is that I have gathered quite some experience on being “the new guy”. Regardless of your profession, it’s always a little special to be a new worker in a “settled” crowd. It has it’s pro’s and con’s, and I thought I’d touch into some of them.

One definite pro is that whenever a new guy comes to a company, everyone is curious to get to know you, at least to some extent. People tend to want to know who the folks around them are, where they are from etc etc, and this gives you an excellent opportunity get to know your new colleagues, as they are open and forthcoming whenever there is a conversation. It might be my manners (presumed that I have any at all), or maybe just something my parents taught me, but I usually introduce myself to every new colleague in the first couple of days.

Now, that leads to a con, a bagatelle really, but for some a quite challenging task: learning names. For all the other employees, the new guy is just one guy, and remembering his name and where he’s from is not a very hard task. The new guy on the other hand… I’m terrible with names, but it seems I’m getting better at it. This time, it took only about a week until I knew the names of my fellow dancers, about 45 people. Christian names, that is. I’ll work on surnames later.

Entering a company, you will always have the fact that no-one there has ever seen you dance, and obviously, they will “judge” you on how you perform the first period you are there. Although I know this is hard for some of my fellow dancers, I’m really quite comfortable with it. It might be my personality, (it sure as hell isn’t my abnormally great ballet technique) but I’m fine with people deciding how “good” I am. If I have some bad days, they’ll just think I have improved next time I have a good one.

Now, ballet is a competitive activity, don’t ever be fooled to think something else. Ballet dancers compete about roles, they compete in class and they compete about technique. Read my post on situations to avoid in a ballet company to learn a bit more on that. Anyway, whenever a new person comes, thats one more player on the field. And obviously, you might be challenging someones role in a performance, someones spot in the line or their time in the spotlight. Now, I’m fine with that. I never felt that anyone around me disliked my behaving in the company, or felt I was challenging their position. I tend to see this more amongst girls, but then, maybe that’s just me. Or maybe I’m just not that big of a challenge?! Anyway, a smile on your face and a little attention not to step on anyones toes (yes, also literarily speaking – you don’t want to mess with dancers feet) has worked for me, I never got any nemesis’s (still plenty of time, right?!)

The biggest con in starting in a new company, is probably that you start in the bottom of the ladder (there’s a hierarchy in the theatre, as well) I’m not thinking about the salary-ladders that is present in many companies, where your salary rises with years spent in the house, as much as the opportunity-ladder. Just as your colleagues make a picture of how “good” a dancer you are, you have to prove yourself worthy of roles and opportunities for the people who decides that. That’s not done in a day. Unless you are one of those “wonderkids” around, the director won’t be offering you the great leading roles anytime soon. But put in some (masses) of hard work in the opportunities you do get, and you’ll establish yourself as a reliable and motivated fellow, and then, who knows? One day, it’s your name on top of that casting list.

Update: Joining company number four, I added a post on the joys of learning from your new colleagues, or seeing your old ones with a fresh set of eyes, if you will. Read it here.

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Ta-ta

H

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