We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Carmen Callahan. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Carmen below.
Carmen, 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?
I am very lucky to be able to be working in the arts full time. It’s tough because appreciation for your work is low, and as a freelancer there is always an ebb and flow of available projects that are a good fit for what you bring to the table with certain times of the year being heavier or lighter, etc. The best way to make it happen is to just network with everyone you meet and always bring a positive attitude – I’ve truly booked so many gigs just by being in the right place at the right time or knowing someone who helped facilitate and introduction. You never know where people will end up or who will bring you your next opportunity, so always be kind!
Carmen, 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 professional ballet dancer, formerly of American Contemporary Ballet, newly joining the freelance community in Los Angeles. I have found so much more freedom and better working conditions since deciding to leave a very structured company setting for the freelance community. I now have much greater availability to take on classical, contemporary and commercial dance work, as well as personal choreography projects. I’ve been in the ballet industry for many years, growing up in Seattle, WA, and training at Pacific Northwest Ballet School before moving to Los Angeles in 2018. Since then, LA has become my home, and I’ve enjoyed working with choreographers and producers across many mediums, including music videos, concert dance performances, and classical ballet guestings. I am quite privileged to have worked with and learned from many wonderful people in the dance industry, including Dita Von Teese, Josie Walsh, Marine de Vachon, Sylvie Blum, and more! And I am always looking for new and exciting projects to work on. I believe the heart and soul of being an artist lies in our ability to create a great and dynamic range of work for ourselves, and so I am always looking to sink my teeth into something new.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Recently, I look a huge step in deciding to walk away from a company where I knew I could not continue to grow as an artist. While life as a freelancer can be scary, the community of dancers, choreographers, and artists I have met here in Los Angeles have welcomed me with open arms, and for that I could not be more grateful. There is a huge amount of amazing and incredible work being created in this city, and since deciding to strike out on my own, I have felt more connected to that pulse than ever before.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I think many artists will relate to this, but since what we do is completely subjective, the driving force is really to just continue growing and always trying to outdo yourself. Sometimes, the circumstances we are in can limit that growth and creativity, and that’s usually when it’s time to make a change. All the decisions I have made in my life have led me to a place where I feel much more connected to this art form that I have studied for years and years, and that’s a great place to be in to continue learning, pushing and improving as an artist every single day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carmencallahan3.wixsite.com/carmencallahan
- Instagram: instagram.com/carma44
Image Credits
Primary photo – Oliver Endhal, Ballet Zaida 1 & 4 – Nathan Carlson 2 & 3 – Anastasia Petukhova 5 & 6 – Oliver Endhal, Ballet Zaida