From Dance to Design

I have always considered myself a creative; expressive, artistic, and passionate. However, interior design was not always my focus.

For a good 20 years, the spotlight of my creative outlet was in the performing arts arena. I wasn’t just a “dancer kid”, I was a “color guard kid”. Long story long, I spent my formidable years dancing and twirling inanimate objects in front of audiences across the globe; subsequently snatching 4 World Championship Titles under my belt in the process. Throughout the process I knew there was something missing from that life. After some time I realized that my passion was not in the performance aspect of dance, but in the artistic process.

I found that choreographing and directing was where I belonged. Everything about it spoke to me. Inspiration for a dance piece could come from anywhere. That spark could come from a phrase, a color, a feeling, a moment, or even just music. Yet, the most fascinating piece of the puzzle was the rapport with the performers and how they interact with the given material.

For those of you not familiar with working with dancers, every single dancer interprets kenetic information differently. Regardless of the initial intention of a piece, it takes on a life of it’s own when your dancers begin to internalize the movement. They become co-authors of the material, creating a one of a kind piece with a life of it’s own. The final product is always a direct representation of that success of that relationship between dancer and choreographer.

Fast forward to 2013 and I am sweating in my first interior design office. Anxiously awaiting to pitch my first design proposal for a prospective client, I am flustered going over my pitch. I think about all of my design training, my ideas for their space, and even thinking of name dropping mutual friends we might have. I am terrified.

Of course, they show up with an entourage. Not just the lovely couple, but their sister and parents. NERVE RACKING! Everything I had prepared to pitch fell out of my head. After introductions and rigorously wiping off my sweaty palms, I start fumbling with my material boards. Fabrics and paint chips are falling on the floor as I passed the boards to them. I try to keep my cool. The clients are quiet, waiting for me to lead the conversation. However, their sister is clearly very excited and decides to peep up. “What’s your design process?”.

Luckily my mind went on autopilot. It shifted straight to dance. I starting depicting my previous life as a choreographer and the important relationship with their dancer. I quickly made the correlation between Interior Design and Client. DING DING… This could work!

All the rules still apply. We would start with a spark of inspiration. After generating an initial design ethos, it would naturally change over time. Like a dance piece, we would create a dialogue back and forth, each volley reshaping the plans. The final product would be a direct result that direct collaboration throughout the process; personal, earnest, and one-of-a-kind.

The clients eyes lit up. They loved what I had to say! I could tell they now felt comfortable with me. We briefly went over the boards, but they were clearly sold on me and not my boards. A lesson I take with me today.

Yes, the fundamentals of creating a beautiful design scheme for a client is important. BUT this business is about people and not spaces. If you cannot build a comfortable relationship with your client, chances are you will not be helping them build anything at all.