We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chloe Rosete a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Chloe, appreciate you joining us today. Have you ever had an amazing boss, mentor or leader leading you? Can you us a story or anecdote that helps illustrate why this person was such a great leader and the impact they had on you or their team?
My current bosses are the most ideal forms of leadership I could ever dream of. I’ve worked under some of the WORST people you could imagine, and at some point truly though that bosses just always had to be awful. But when I started working for Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami I saw a whole new reality. My bosses genuinely believed in me, honored my insecurities and helped me to empower more confidence through them, cared about my well-being outside of the arts industry, and now have supported me unconditionally as I’ve added Motherhood to my repertoire. It’s the best feeling to know they have my back in every step that I take, and I never ever take them for granted.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started ballet at 2 years old, worked my first professional job at 15, and was fired for being too fat at 20. I quit my first love of ballet, and spiraled into a dark body image hatred for year until finally yoga helped me crawl out. I got certified as a yoga instructor, and returned to the stage with a new confidence and love and appreciation for what I do. Not to mention I shifted work environment to be in the most supportive and healthy work place I’ve ever encountered in this industry at Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami. Since then I’ve become passionate about speaking to body image that dancers go through and encourage that healing from major body image trauma can be possible. Now after having my first child and going through pregnancy I have even more experience with processing the changes and fluctuations in weight and shape that can bring on so many emotions. I use my personal experience to share authentic awareness of what healing looks like and my goal is to inspire others to also be able to rediscover their empowerment in their bodies.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
To be honest my goal is pretty lofty. I want to inspire the entire industry to change. I’m tired of seeing my friends and fellow dancers consistently emotionally traumatized to the point where they can’t walk in a dance studio anymore. It’s common. And absolutely insane. I love this art form so dearly and want to preserve its beauty while completely stripping it of the absolute anarchy and crippling toxicity it holds. My goal is to always speak up and never shy away from exposing a situation that I feel hurts this industry. I’m okay with the backlash that will bring me because I want to see a dance world that I wouldn’t be afraid to send my daughter into.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The audience! Man the pandemic really taught us how hard it was to work with no feedback. We did many filmed performances and when you finish and there’s no applause, and no one to talk back with after the show, it was so anticlimactic. A huge part of why I dance is to share what’s in my soul, and it’s not being shared if no one is there to receive it.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.FreshPrana.com
- Instagram: Chloefreytag
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCQy-TG5UB6oGU76xuylHEXQ
Image Credits
Yanni de Melo, Heather Coronel