The 2017 Arthur Murray All Star Spotlight: Cristina Hare
Name: Cristina Hare
Studio: Yorkville
Year You Started in the Business: 2012
Furthest you've made it in All Stars Before Now: Vegas Finals 2016!
Position: Teacher
What is the AM All Star Competition?The Arthur Murray All Stars is a skills competition for every level of professional within each location around the world. The goal is to grow, develop, and reveal the professionals that demonstrate the best customer service, communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork skills. The competition begins in each studio and winners advance to small region, or District, competitions. From there the District winners advance to the large region, or Area, competition. Finally, the Area winners advance to the World Championships in Las Vegas where each Area team tests and one team is pronounced the winner.
More importantly, the real winners are the students of the Arthur Murray Dance Studios as these tests, and accompanying training, help to deliver better communication, teamwork, problem solving, and confidence from every member of the staff.
AML: First off, congratulations on moving on to the finals in Las Vegas. How did you react when the announcement was made?
CH: I think I screamed and jumped out of my seat! I felt pretty good about my area testing but it's such a strong and talented group of people, I didn't think I'd win two years in a row. I'm just excited for another opportunity to represent Area 4 at the International level.
AML: How did you feel going into the Semi-Finals?
CH: Surprisingly, I was pretty calm. Lots of nervous energy but it was my third year at the Semi-Finals and some of those initial "what the heck have I gotten myself into" fears have subsided. Now it's something I actively look forward to every year!
AML: What kind of last minute did you do prepare? Was there a pep talk? Did you do yoga in the hallway? Give us the scoop!
CH: My mind runs in overdrive, so it's mostly organizational stuff! Figuring out which of the 8000 thoughts I have is going to help me succeed, and pushing away everything else.
AML: How has this process made you a better professional?
CH: The All Star process, year after year, teaches me so much. I remember things from my first year, 2013, that I still use on my lessons! The most important tool I've taken is the ability to do things NOW. That having knowledge and ideas is fantastic but if you don't act on them, everybody loses out. To have all this information can be so empowering, and I've learned not to be afraid of my own ability, and how lucky I am to be in a room full of people every day that are so passionate about what we do.
AML: What's your All Star backstory?
CH: I'd been in the company just under a year when I competed for the firs time as a Specialist. There were 9 of us and I came second in the district testings. So close! The year after, I made it to Area testing and I still remember the ridiculous things I did on my mock and the look on my "students" faces... shudder. Those two events were such a mix of motivating and horrifying that I'll never make those specific mistakes again! In 2016, I won as a Teacher in Area testing, and I nearly fell out of my chair... I wanted it so badly! That was definitely a career high and the confidence boost stuck with me going into this year's testing. I am SO excited to be a part of this year's All Star Team, it's a new high already and we haven't even hit Vegas yet!
AML: What will it mean to you if your team wins it all this year?
CH: It would be incredibly rewarding to win in Vegas this year. It's been a journey that I know isn't over, but that culmination of practice and training is just dying to come to a head with a win at the All Star Finals. I'm so proud to be part of such a talented and driven team, and nothing would be better than seeing everyone's amazing teamwork rewarded.
AML: Who are some people who helped you get to this point?
CH: There are so many people that have helped me / put up with me practicing on them even if they didn't know what was going on! The whole Arthur Murray Toronto team has been so helpful and supportive, especially Lisa Maclaggan, my amazing franchisee and trainer, and Stephen O'Neill - Williams, my All Star partner in crime for the second year running. Now that we're working with the Area 4 team, our leaders Bryan and Chia Ling have been unfailingly helpful and supportive, always encouraging and pushing for improvement in the most invaluable ways.
AML: Last question: what does this mean to you? What makes it special?
CH: To be going into All Star finals as part of what is literally my dream feels like such an honour. Personally, it's validating to have another chance to represent my area, and I can feel and see the ways I've changed as a professional in this company since the beginning ofthis experience. I'm just so excited and feel so lucky. GO AREA 4!!!
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