We recently connected with Oler Goodlett and have shared our conversation below.

Oler, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

As a youth I played many sports either organized or recreational. I enjoyed being athletic as most children do. What I found fascinating about dance was the idea of being athletic while telling a story. Athletes don’t have to display a persona while performing their tasks, they can be subdued, demonstrative or any level in between. In ballet you have to exhaust your self physically while projecting a persona consistent with your character at that moment. It could be joy, sorrow, anger etc. all within the same dance. I found that to be harder than to just be athletic alone. It made me feel like I was accomplishing more than your normal athlete.

Oler, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was a senior-soloist with the Cincinnati Ballet. I retired in 2008 after 14 professional seasons. I trained at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) in Cincinnati, Ohio and the School of American Ballet in New York City. While at SCPA I majored in Dance, Drama and Musical Theater. After retirement I became and Associate Artistic Director at The Children’s Theater of Cincinnati where I created the TCT Academy. I spent 10 years helping to mold young artists through classes, choreography and directing. I am currently back at my alma mater SCPA as a dance teacher, choreographer and director. Through the years I have performed in hundreds of ballet, hundreds of musicals and either choreographed or directed just as many.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Dancers reitre earlier than most and I really didn’t have a definite second career in mind. Part of me wanted to leave the performing field entirely but performing was also the only thing I’d ever known. I spent a year teaching, guesting and choreographing trying finding a new path. I was elated to sign on with the Children’s Theater of Cincinnati but I also realized that my business acumen for the Arts was lacking. I was fortunate to have been a union representative for the ballet during performing career which served me well pivoting to the business/financial side of the arts. Using that knowledge I quickly started the TCT Academy which was a major point of the company growth in subsequent years. I didn’t really know how to use a computer, let alone Microsoft Word, Excel etc. I taught myself to use business tools and to apply sound business logic to help my arts organization thrive and create a reputation as an competent Arts Administration Professional of which I’m very proud.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Everyone is creative whether they acknowledge it or not. Everyone also needs to realize that in whatever profession they pursue, they will need to access both their creative and analytic mind. People have the misconception that business people are business people, and creatives are creatives. Nothing is further from the truth. The best dancers, CEO’s, Construction workers etc. all use their creative and analytical thought process to be effective and ground breaking. My goal is to use the arts to unlock that for everyone.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @olerg
• Facebook: Jay Goodlett
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/DeTee7f85JI (#dayswithoutdance playlist)

Image Credits
CBC Archives