John Clark is a dance coach, and a ninja.
No, he doesn't wear a mask, use martial arts, or carry sharp weapons. His ninja-ness comes from his ability to enter a room, without fanfare, pinpoint his target, and deliver a message with surgical precision. John Clark's reputation is built on his incredible information and humble demeanor.
It's that tandem that makes him a ninja.
AM: We all know what a fabulous coach you are, but not many people know about how you started in Arthur Murray. Can you give us a little history?
JC: Walked in to the Arthur Murray Location in New Jersey at 19 years old. I was already an experienced dancer in ballroom and theatrical. The studio took to me and quickly offered him a job, and I refused.
AM: Really? What happened?
JC: I was already employed elsewhere. As fate would have it, my job was terminated 2 weeks later and that opened the doors for new employment. Fortunately, Arthur Murray was still open to hiring me... and the rest is history!
AM: Thinking about all of your achievements in dancing, which one are you most proud of?
JC: Being a 3 Time Arthur Murray Champion.
AM: So how did you get started competing?
JC: I was an instructor for a long time before I was talked into competing. My wife, who was also an instructor, turned me on to the idea. We had partnered together but had never competed before!
AM: What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to you while traveling as an Arthur Murray consultant?
JC: I got caught in a blizzard on my way to one of my first consulting jobs.
JC: I spend time with family.
AM: If Hollywood decided to turn your story into a movie, who would play the role of John Clark?
JC: Richard Gere.
AM: (finish the sentence) “Back in my day we used to…..
JC: Have way fewer coaching lessons available. Sometimes only 2 coaches per year!
AM: What advice would you give to students about taking a coaching lesson?
JC: Have an open mind, don’t be afraid to do something different.
Dance coaches like John Clark are always in high demand. Including a consultant in your dance program is a great way to accelerate your learning. For more ideas on how to make the most of these appointments, we recommend reading, "16 Ways To Utilize A Dance Coach"
Author's Note: This interview was originally posted in 2014. We updated the article on 12/10/16 to improve the continuity between this and other content on Arthurmurraylive.com