Olivia Cianci Moves to the 2017 Arthur Murray All Star Championships
- Name: Olivia Cianci
- Studio: Chatswood, Australia
- All Star History: "This is my first year competing."
- Year You Started in the Business: 2017
- Position: Specialist
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 into the finals in Last Vegas. How did you react when the announcement was made?
OC: I was so extremely excited and grateful to be apart of this experience.
AML: How did you feel going into the Semi-Finals?
OC: No matter how well prepared I was, I still felt those nervous butterflies.
AML: What kind of last minute things did you do to prepare?
OC: Lots of notes and revision seems to work for me. Last minute pep talks from my amazing Supervisor, Shane, and my bosses Mark and Mel. I took a big deep breath and tried to picture all the students I've taught, envisioning them helped put me in the right head space before taking the exam.
AML: How has this process made you a better professional?
OC: I found the training to be incredibly helpful as I am a fairly new instructor. As soon as I read through and understood the releases, I started to apply it into my lessons as much as possible. It all stared to click once I was able to put the training into practice.
AML: What's you All Star backstory? If you can give a little synopsis of the highs and lows of this competition over the years.
OC: I don't have one just yet, but I'm sure it's going to be all highs from here! Very excited to go and take it all in.
AML: What will it mean to you if the team wins it all this year?
OC: I am so grateful to be apart of this team that no matter how we place, I count myself lucky to have been able to represent our schools and country!
AML: Who are some people that helped you get to this point?
OC: Shane, our Chatswood Supervisor, was my main mentor throughout the training process for All Stars. I also have my fantastic bosses Mark and Melanie for allowing me time to study and train with all of the Chatswood and Brookvale team.
AML: Last question: What does this mean to you? What makes it special?
OC: To me, this is an amazing opportunity to see Arthur Murray in all its glory. I am looking forward to learning as much as I can along the way as well.
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