Inspiring Artists Stories
Today we'd like to introduce you to Adam Blanchard
Current Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Adam, thank you for taking the time to share your story. Could you start by telling us a little about yourself?
From a young age, I’ve always had an interest in the arts. Whether it was taking piano lessons, or dancing around my living room, I always felt such a connection to music and the idea of performing. This interest, however, soon transformed into a passion after performing in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with the Orange County Children’s Theater at the age of nine. After continuing my training at OCCT, I ended up at the Huntington Beach Academy of the Performing Arts, focusing on musical theater and dance. While at APA, I got to perform in a number of productions, such as The Producers and Cabaret, while also working on my tap and jazz technique. Around this time, I was introduced to the Rose Center Theater, where I performed in shows such as Hello Dolly and 42nd Street. Right before graduating high school, I ended up booking an audition I went to with the Disneyland Resort, and went on to perform in parades and shows such as “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade,” “A Christmas Fantasy,” and “Fantasmic.” From there, I went on to perform in Tokyo, Japan, at the Tokyo DisneySea Resort, where I danced in their main stage show, “Big Band Beat!”
Can you tell us a little more about what you've been working on recently?
From January to August 2020, I was contracted with the Tokyo Disney Resort as a principal dancer in their main stage show, “Big Band Beat!” I had learned three tracks in the show, including soloist and ensemble work. The show revolves around the big-band music era from the 1920’s to the 1940’s and showcases a variety of music and dance styles, such as tap, ballroom, and jazz. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, our contracts were terminated early, with hope to return to the parks soon. Currently, I am a member of Cameron Lee’s mentorship training program in Los Angeles, CA. The program is created for commercial dancers to train and prepare for the industry. Through this program, I have been able to train under esteemed choreographers such as Kyle Lester, Kyla Fajardo, and Cameron Lee himself with the hopes and expectations to further my dance career.
The road of the artist is a sometimes long and bumpy road. Have you had to overcome any on your journey?
It’s never a smooth road - but would we do what we do if it was easy? I’ve gone through rejection and embarrassment. I’ve also felt unnoticed and unappreciated. But as artists, we need to use this as fuel. We take on this pressure and anxiety because the outcome outweighs any other negative that we think about. Remember that we all need to know what it’s like to go through obstacles in order to appreciate where we end up on our journeys.
Are there any lessons that you've learned along your journey so far? Something that you'd want to tell your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to not take everything so seriously! The arts are about creation and expression. It is so hard to showcase that if we are so in our heads about what people think. We need to remember that the arts are fun and that is the ultimate success.
What's the best piece of advice you've received?
“I can teach you technique, and I can teach you talent. What I can not teach you is the spark you have inside yourself.” Passion is all that matters! All performers go through rejection. All performers are judged. We have trained ourselves to believe that we are not good enough, and it breaks my heart to see people lose that hope and passion, based on their own assumptions. It takes one person to see something in you, and believe it or not, it could be something you don’t even see in the mirror. Performers need to trust themselves and accept that growth is constant. That is the key to success!
What inspires you? Can you tell us about a moment in your life you found to be inspirational?
My college audition process is definitely one of the most life-changing experiences I’ve had pertaining to the arts industry. I always had a specific path laid out for me. It was my biggest goal to get my BFA in theater or dance, and end up in New York City. I was accepted into approximately eight universities for my academics. Out of those acceptances, I received seven rejections for their arts majors. I found myself lost, confused, and angry; questioning my methods leading up to my career. I saw no future for myself unless everything worked out exactly as planned. Five years later, and I would not change any of it for the world. I’ve gotten the privilege to perform in ten shows at the Disneyland Resort, perform in Japan, and am currently in the process of transferring to finish my degree next Fall. Sometimes plans change and things don’t always work out how we expect them to, but it is up to us to utilize the current state we’re at and use it to get to where we’re meant to be.
What do you consider your proudest moment?
The proudest moment of my career is going to Tokyo. Not only did it feel like such an accomplishment, but the experience of being there is what truly brought me pride. I met so many people from so many parts of the world and sharing our passions for the arts are what truly brought us together.
The mission of The Rose is to make the arts accessible in the community. What purpose do you think the arts or artists play in today's society?
The arts truly are everything. With art, comes creation and innovation. We live in an innovative world and now is a better time than ever to be an artist. People are relying on it and it is up to us artists to provide happiness in a world that is so uncertain.
What are your hopes for the future of the arts?
I have more excitement than I have hope for the arts industry. I’m excited to see what people begin to create and how that develops over time. I’m buckled up and ready for the ride.
Contact Info:
Email: adamrblanch@gmail.com
Instagram: @adam_blanch
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