#Talent@ALTEN: Guillaume C., From Ballrooms to Boardrooms

We would like to share with you the story of Guillaume C., one of our talented Business Managers at Alten UK. Guillaume started his journey at ALTEN 2 years ago as a Lead Engineer in the Automotive sector. He then evolved and became a Business Manager last September. From ballrooms to boardrooms, from suits to dancewear, Guillaume is extremely devoted to both his practice and work. Read his interview to learn more about his passion!

 

Tell us about your passion for dance.

When I was 5, I went to see one of my sister’s ballet performances. It was one of the most amazing and gratifying experiences of my childhood – one that I still remember vividly to this day. The piece was filled with indescribable passion and expression. I remember being overwhelmed with emotion, as though I was being taken on a journey of profound self-discovery. At this point, I realised I wanted to discover more about dance, so I started lessons in classical dance basics, which I continued until I was 12. After a long break, I commenced dance again at university, attending salsa classes and joining a contemporary and modern jazz association named Coincidence.

Do you perform on stage?

Yes, I do, and I love it! When I joined Coincidence, I was involved in the creation of the university’s annual show as a dancer and choreographer. Being able to design a dance routine and express my creative side through choreography helped me understand dance as more than just art. Furthermore, teaching other dancers the different routines encouraged me to develop strategies to encourage people to express their own creativity.

The annual show was a 3-hour performance in front of 1000 people in a theatre at the end of the academic year. We performed two years in a row with a troupe of 60 dancers expressing our art through various themes. The euphoria of the audience, the shouts of enthusiasm, and the standing ovation were magnificent rewards. It was a great adventure, one that I was very honoured to be a part of.

How do you feel on stage?

I love the movement, the harmony between the body, and the emotion that is created when dancing. When I am on stage, I am filled with a range of emotions, from apprehension and adrenaline to ecstasy and joy. When I dance, I want the audience to connect to my emotion because dance is not just about the movement but also the drama — a story that can be interpreted in various ways. It is always a great joy to see the results of many months of work welcomed by an audience.

Thanks to these experiences, I have been able to develop my creativity, my sense of organisation, and my stress management. I think that these skills are useful in my personal life but even more so in my role as a Business Manager today.

Do you have any future projects/ambitions?

Obviously, COVID-19 has had a big impact on everybody’s plans this past year and a half. So it has been quite challenging to plan and organise dance projects! But, I am currently coordinating and creating the choreography for my sister’s opening dance at her wedding. I am also planning to start Latin dance again when the situation allows it.