BWW Interviews: Cary Street, This Dancer's Life

As a dancer and choreographer, Cary Street's a pretty recognizable face in Nashville theater circles, having worked with Circle Players, Boiler Room Theatre, Towne Centre Theatre, Mansker Players, The Larry Keeton Theatre and so many more Tennessee theater companies. And that makes her an ideal choice to kick off This Dancer's Life, our newest series of interviews about the people who pursue their dreams of art and performance in Nashville. Truth be told: Cary and I have been friends for years and we've been involved in various theater endeavors during that time, including the time she played a Cagelle in the Nashville premiere of La Cage Aux Folles that I directed in 1999. Most recently, she took on the role of Red Carpet Fashion Commentator at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors, a role she'll continue this year for the 2011 event.

In the coming months, we hope to introduce you to some interesting and intriguing personalities in the world of dance in Nashville, focusing on what inspires them and why they've chosen Nashville as their home base. So, it's only appropriate that I introduce you to my friend Cary...enjoy!

What was your first introduction to dance as an art form? My mother and grandmother loved old movie musicals, and I watched with them. The dancers were so graceful and beautiful...it was like watching a painting come to life.

What was your first real job as a dancer? I choreographed my college's musical as a freshman and was paid!

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in dance? I saw Donna McKechnie dance Cassie in A Chorus Line (original company), and I just knew that dance had to be somewhere in my life.

Who is your dancing idol? Cyd Charrise. She gives me hope as an "older dancer!"

Why do you pursue your art in Nashville? Nashville is my home and where my husband is from. Nashville may be "Music City" but there is a world of amazing dancers who live here. That's one of Nashville's hidden secrets.

What are the best parts of working here? I have had the opportunity to become friends with some of the most amazing dancers and performers. They have taught me so much, and I am always inspired by them. One would be hard pressed to find any more talented dancers anywhere.

What is your dream role as a dancer? At my age, any role as a dancer is great! I have been asked if it's hard to step back into chorus roles. My answer is that when you're old enough to be the mother of the other girls in the chorus, and you're cast, that's a pretty damn nice compliment!

If you could dance any role...what would it be and why? At this stage in my life, it's Cassie from A Chorus Line. I can so relate to her now. I would love to dance it, even if it killed me!

What is the brightest spot on your resume...what role/work is your most favorite? Definitely dancing A Chorus Line. But most importantly is the opportunity to dance for some of the most talented dancers and choreographers around: Terry McLemore, Nora Cherry, Kate Adams-Johnson, Laurie Gregorie, Pam Atha....I could go on. I just hope I can dance with and for more.

What's the biggest misconception people have about dancers? That we only dance. Most would be surprised at the plethora of talent dancers have....singing, acting, directing, producing, other art forms. Dancers are very multi-dimensional.

Who would play you in the film version of your life story? I want Hannah McGuinley or Cori Anne Laemmel.

What's your favorite work created for dancers to perform? I don't have a favorite...it's any work that allows the dancer freedom of expression whether it be ballet, modern, tap, jazz, musical theatre...

If you could have dinner with any three figures (living or dead, real or fictional) who are a part of the world of dance, who would you choose and why? Anna Pavlova, because we both had weak ankles, but she overcame it; Martha Graham, for why she felt she needed to break the mold of traditional dance with contemporary dance (which I have never mastered); and Ann Miller, since I've been told that I dance like her and resemble her. Oh, and Cyd Charrise to host!

Imagine a young person seeing you onstage or seeing a production in which you played a major role coming up to you and asking you for advice in pursuing their own dream...what would you say? Interestingly, I saw some youngsters dance in the latest touring company of A Chorus Line, and I knew the assistant choreographer. So after the show, I had a conversation with several of the cast members about dance, opportunities, family, sacrifice, etc. Toward the end of the conversation, a little girl (I use the term loosely) asked me, "What do you do when you're too old to dance?" At first I thought, I'm not too old to dance; but then in her mind, I was as old or older than her mother. What I told her was that you're never too old to dance. It will always be a part of you and of what defines you. You will just find another venue in which to dance: choreography, staging, directing, teaching....dance is a part of who you are and will always be. It's a part of me, and defines a part of who I am always.

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