We recently connected with John Vaughan and have shared our conversation below.

John, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

After graduating with my BFA in Acting from the University of Greensboro, North Carolina in 1985, I moved to Los Angeles three months later. This was a huge risk for me as I had never been farther west than Kansas, and did not know a single person in Los Angeles. I moved out with all my possessions in a Dodge Charger with no air conditioning. I had to find a place to live, and find my way as a “newbie” in the entertainment industry. A friend of a friend spoke with me via phone for about two hours shortly after I got settled in a studio apartment in Van Nuys, and gave me so many insights on finding an agent, taking classes, finding auditions, etc. I wrote furiously and gratefully. At the end of the conversation, I asked if I could take her to lunch to thank her, but she said “nope, I’m too busy hustling my own career. I will tell you what you can do, though. For the remainder of your time here, help newcomers to town like I just helped you.” I’ve done just that for the last 40 years. Moving to any town, knowing noone, is a always a risk. Moving to Los Angeles or New York solo is even riskier. But I’m glad I took that risk. It has resulted in a great career full of hard-work and joy.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I came to Los Angeles with the intent of being an actor and musical theatre dancer. I had studied acting in college, and done several professional gigs prior to my arrival in 1985. For the first year, I worked mainly as a performer, and made extra money teaching tap and musical theatre classes. I had my SAG and AFTRA cards, so I found some commercial work as well. I had previous experience in choreography, and by the end of my first year I had landed my first choreography gig at a dinner theatre in Claremont called the Candlelight Pavilion. Evidently, I was good at it as I very quickly began landing more and more jobs as a choreographer. By 1990, I was primarily making a living as a choreographer, and performing less and less. By 1992, I was working as a director as well, and also as an adjunct faculty member at Citrus College. By 1999, I began a split career as a full-time tenure track faculty member at Citrus and a full-time freelance career as a director/choreographer. At the college, I taught dance, musical theatre and fitness. As a professional director/choreographer, I worked at many Equity theatres throughout Southern California, as well as corporate gigs and theme parks such as Knotts Berry Farm and Seaworld, Texas. Finally, in 2018, I became the Dean of Visual and Performing Arts at Citrus College. My freelance work is very limited these days, but I do manage to squeeze in one or two professional jobs per year. I’m proud of this delicate “balancing act” of a career, and I would recommend it as a blueprint for paying your bills while being creative and following your artistic heart.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative person is sharing the joy of it. I am a pretty joyful person, and I believe that embodies how I approach creative work. It is important to not that joy can encompass many human emotions: tears of joy or the cartharsis from an emotional encounter with art is joyful. I love when I see that something I taught or created brings emotional responses to the folks that I share it.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I danced professionally until I was 45, and I am now 61. I had hip issues that had really begun to bother me, and I was in a great deal of pain by my mid-forties. I knew I had to stop dancing, but it was now affecting my teaching as well. At 49, I had total replacement of my left hip, followed by my right hip at 57. I knew I’d have to pivot a bit in my career, and I began to think I’d be a good fit as an academic administrator. The problem was I didn’t have a masters degree. So, at 45 I took the plunge and went back to get my masters degree online in humanities. I knew the broad based approach of a humanities degree would be a good fit for me. It encompasses the study of “what makes us human” by looking at the human experience in history, philosophy, music, literature and art/architecture. In short, I fell in love with it. I began supplementing my dance schedule by teaching humanities as well in the social sciences division. As I became dean at the age of 54, that “pivot” served me well!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @thedancingdeanguy

Image Credits
Shawna Cook