MY STORY
Coaching individuals and groups has been a central aspect of my work as a teacher, Artistic Director and international arts leader for the last twenty-five years. It’s a skill others have recognised in me and a role that I find deeply satisfying.
Matz Skoog in Bolero, by Maurice Béjart
I started out in life as a dancer ...
I was born in Stockholm and trained as a dancer in Sweden and in Russia. An extensive dancing career at the highest level in both classical ballet and contemporary dance included performing on stages internationally and working with the most exciting artists of my era. Companies I danced with include: The Royal Swedish Ballet, English National Ballet, Netherlands Dance Theatre, and Rambert Dance Company.
Following a successful performance career I became a much sought-after dance tutor, leading to a variety of professional appointments in the dance world, including Artistic Director of two national ballet companies: English National Ballet and the Royal New Zealand Ballet.
Over fifty years of working in the performing arts, twenty-five of them as a coach and leader, I have helped some of the most ambitious high performers on the planet discover what they need to do to claim their space in life and on stage, achieve success and, most importantly, find out what might be stopping them from maximising their potential.
As an International Dance Career Consultant I now use that experience to work one-on-one with ambitious dance professionals to help them dramatically increase their chances of a successful and fulfilling career through effective career planning, development, and progression.
I enable my clients to build courage and confidence, find clarity of direction to what's next in their life and business, deal with transition and change and perform at a higher level. People I work with typically go from feeling overwhelmed (for any variety of reasons) to becoming confident, motivated and able to get to where they want to be.
Other things you may want to know about me
I left Sweden in 1979 to seek adventure, fame and fortune
I have over the past 25 years lived in both the UK and New Zealand
I currently live in the countryside outside of London
I appreciate food and wine – sometimes to my detriment
I enjoy visiting museums and art galleries
I am practical and good at DIY
I am happily married and have two adult sons
I am an unreserved introvert, despite my many years of performing in front of thousands of people on stages around the world
I am passionate about enabling my clients to fulfil their potential and I have full certification in Executive Coaching and Mentoring, accredited by The City and Guilds of London and ILM, the Institute of Leadership and Management.
I first crossed paths with Matz back in the early 1980’s when he was a principal dancer for London Festival Ballet, and got to know him better during his time as Artistic Director for Royal New Zealand Ballet. In the inimitable fashion of professional dancers, we must learn to reinvent our paths through life as time passes, and his latest “transition” is rooted in a fully lived life!
Richard Chen-See - Director of Licensing for Paul Taylor Dance Foundation