We were lucky to catch up with Andrew Winans recently and have shared our conversation below.

Andrew, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Success is found in the silver lining of the theatre industry. Between the lines, not black or white. Making a living as an artist has taken me over ten years to find a rhythm for and I still feel like I am constantly reinventing myself. Saying “yes” to every opportunity that comes my way because you never know where it is going to lead to. Almost every door that’s been opened for me has been through a previous opportunity that brought about new work by working with new people. And not being afraid to knock on other doors to express interest in what I am interested in. It can feel scary at times, but the worst someone can say is “not now” and you keep forging ahead.

I think “making connections” can be an easily overused term and can feel very surface level. I’ve found more success in the approach of cultivating and maintaining relationships over time. Creativity is a very vulnerable experience, whether it be producing, managing, directing, choreographing, really any level. Not to mention the amount of money at stake from investors. People want to work with someone they enjoy being in the room with and are able to find common grounds when the going gets tough.

The most important thing is showing up, doing the work and being patient for the opportunity of being at the right place, at the right time. When those stars all align is when success cliques. Trying not to waste time comparing to anyone else because everyone is on their own journey, not yours. No matter what ups and downs life has thrown at me, I’ve tried to keep my head held high and respect myself as a person first and foremost. I try to keep myself in rooms surrounded people that inspire and push me to become a better artist and strive for the highest standards.

Andrew, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a New York City based theatre director, choreographer, associate, teacher, producer, performer… you name it. I’m there! I fell in love with theatre because of the community and joy it brings to so many people’s lives. There is no other art form that has the ability to connect on such a deep personal level from the experience and energy of a given performance. My journey here started at 13 years old and I never looked back for nearly 20 years. I specialize in classic theatre jazz and tap dance, inspired by Broadway legends like Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, Michael Bennett, Michael Kidd, to name a few. I am incredibly inspired to pass on the knowledge I’ve attained from teachers and mentors I’ve been lucky enough to study under. If we don’t pass on that knowledge, everything learned along the way would fade away to nothing. The thing that sets me apart from a lot of my colleagues in the business is my sense for perseverance and hard work to continue taking steps forward. That even means creating opportunities for myself for the chance to continue learning. I am so hungry for a life in the theatre.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I was in high school starting out in my training as a theatre artist, there was a vocational acting program that had a concrete 4-year enrollment. Meaning, if you missed the cut off for the auditions to be in the program, you couldn’t get in later. I started my theatre journey soon after this audition cut off. As I then continued my outside singing and dancing lessons, I fell deeper in love with theatre… walking out of seeing my first Broadway show (WICKED), saying to my dad, “I can do that.” I quickly became incredibly envious of the students with the opportunity to be in that vocational program. I felt stuck with no where to turn both personally and for more thorough training to improve locally. On top of it, at the time I couldn’t afford many “extras” in terms of lessons so became a bit limited in my opportunities.

I found myself very down and depressed at school… but with many ambitions for a life in the theatre, quickly turned those feelings into action. Countless hours of hard work to rise above the situation and push forward. I bartered “house work” and chores for voice and dance lessons. I practiced on my own… countless hours to keep up with the other kids at my high school who were in classes all day as a part of their curriculum. I was creating my own curriculum of sorts and soon prepared myself well enough to be accepted into The Boston Conservatory, one of the country’s top programs for Musical Theatre. If it weren’t for feeling of being on the outside, looking in while in the halls of my high school, I don’t think I would’ve learned this valuable lesson and be where I am today.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I am so inspired by teaching, being able to share anecdotes that have really helped me along my journey as both a dancer and creative. I like to use phrases like “I see..” this, or “What helps me is…” because I know experience is so subjective. It is so important not to hold onto valuable knowledge and share it with people to thrive and pass it on themselves. I had a mentor, the late Chet Walker, who dedicated his life to passing on the legacy of Bob Fosse and Jack Cole who inevitably influences every style of theatre jazz as we know it. That approach has really helped me, especially as I’ve seen multiple of the incredible people I’ve been lucky enough to study under unfortunately pass away. It is a reminder that we only leave behind the legacy we built behind us and can only hope artists share the information along.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stepsnyc.com/faculty/bio/Andrew-Winans/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewwwinans/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrsTIHV6FviXTnZYMr6ycBA/videos

Image Credits

Tim Fuchs Photography