Meet Arielle Cole

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Arielle Cole a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Arielle, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I found my purpose by recognizing that the roadblocks and challenges I faced were not unique to me. In particular, I struggled with a lack of opportunities in my hometown, the absence of proper stepping stones for emerging career artists to advance to the next level of their work, and the need for a celebration of talent regardless of a person’s background. As I navigated these obstacles, I realized that many others were likely experiencing similar difficulties. This inspired me to dedicate myself to understanding these issues more deeply and finding ways to help others overcome them.

Now, I focus on providing opportunities at any stage of a person’s career, whether pre-professional, emerging, or mid-career. By turning my personal struggles into a pathway for assisting others, I discovered a sense of purpose that is both fulfilling and impactful.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, dance has always been a cornerstone of my life, leading me across the country and around the world. My serious dance journey began at age nine with intensive Ballet training at San Jose Ballet Academy, complemented by Jazz and Tap education at Jensen’s Performing Arts. In high school, I was a proud member of the nationally acclaimed Lincoln Convertibles dance team and the Fancy Dancers. I earned my BFA in Dance from the University at Buffalo and later, an MFA in Dance and a Master of Management from Mills College in Oakland, CA.

My career highlights include dancing in Israel with Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company’s MASA Dance Journey program, performing with Keshet Dance Company in Albuquerque, NM, and with PERSpectives Dance Company in Los Gatos, CA. Additionally, I served as the Artistic Director of Montage Contemporary Company.

A lifelong passion for academia and education has made teaching dance one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. I find immense joy in teaching adults of all levels and coaching preprofessional students. There’s a unique fulfillment in witnessing the spark of joy in my students’ eyes, mirroring my passion for dance. As an adjudicator at dance competitions nationwide, I cherish the opportunity to share my feedback and knowledge with aspiring dancers.

My love for choreography began at the age of five when I started creating dance shows in my room, using my loft bed as a stage. By eleven, I was choreographing solos for local dance competitions. This early passion evolved into a lifelong dream of founding my own professional dance company, which I realized in 2018 with the establishment of ArcTangent Dance.

Looking ahead to 2024, exciting developments are on the horizon for ArcTangent Dance. In May, we held auditions for our second pre-professional dance company, CoTangent Dance. This September, we will host the inaugural SpARC Dance Festival, a celebration of the incredible dance talent in San José. These initiatives are steps towards my vision of a vibrant performing arts scene in the San José area.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that had the greatest impact on my journey were resilience, adaptability, and a strong sense of community.

Resilience: The ability to persist through challenges and setbacks has been crucial. Like any artistic career, dance is filled with triumphs and disappointments. Building resilience helps you stay focused and motivated, even when things don’t go as planned. Additionally, I’ve found that failures often provide the most valuable lessons and opportunities for growth. My advice is to cultivate resilience by embracing challenges as learning opportunities. When you face setbacks, analyze what went wrong and what you can learn from the experience. Surround yourself with supportive people who can offer encouragement and perspective. Practice self-care and mindfulness to maintain your mental and emotional well-being. For me, this was finding a hobby outside my creative career that I found fulfilling when I needed to take a break. What was that hobby? Macarame!

Adaptability: The dance world is constantly evolving, and being able to adapt to new styles, techniques, and opportunities has been essential. Whether it’s adjusting to different teaching methods or embracing new choreography, adaptability has allowed me to grow and thrive. I try to stay open-minded and curious by taking classes in different dance styles outside my comfort zone. This opened doors I didn’t even know existed.

Community: Building and nurturing a strong sense of community has been incredibly impactful. My connections with fellow dancers, mentors, and students have provided support, inspiration, and opportunities. A strong community can uplift and sustain you throughout your career. My advice is to invest time in building genuine relationships within the dance community. Attend events, participate in workshops, and collaborate with others. Offer support and seek mentorship. A thriving community benefits everyone involved.

For those early in their journey, focus on developing these qualities by setting clear goals, staying persistent, and remaining open to new experiences. Believe in your ability to grow and succeed, even when faced with obstacles.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Yes, I am definitely looking for folks to partner or collaborate with, particularly for the growth of the SpARC Dance Festival. I am seeking community partners who are passionate about San José and believe in its potential to be a vibrant hub for the arts. Ideal collaborators would possess skills in networking, fundraising, and finding sponsors. These partners should share a commitment to fostering creativity, supporting artists at all stages of their careers, and enriching the cultural landscape of our city.

If you are interested in collaborating and contributing to the SpARC Dance Festival, I would love to hear from you. Please connect with me via email at contact@arctangentdance.com.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.arctangentdance.com, www.ariellecole.com
• Instagram: @arctangentdance
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arctangentdance
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielle-cole-16b9a7174

Image Credits

Lauren Hoskins
Kavan Lake
The Studio CV
Sana Budiak
Sara Lavalley