Always Moving

Bob Cole was recovering from leg injuries, and he was homeless, when he discovered ballet at 17 years old. Within three years, he was dancing professionally, and soon became a member of the National Ballet of Canada. He saw himself as a character actor, a niche he thoroughly embraced. When his leg injuries prematurely put an end to his dancing career, he longed to run his own dance company, one that would be free of the worst parts of the ballet world: style over story, competition over collaboration, and worst of all, enslavement to preconceived ideas of body image.

Bob landed in Newark, Ohio and has directed the Central Ohio Youth Ballet for 28 years. He believes in meeting young dancers where they are, and encouraging them to take chances. He emphasizes story in his productions. The company's annual presentation of The Nutcracker regularly packs the Midland Theater.

In the following audio story, prepares his dancers minutes before a production of The Nutcracker, and reflects on his journey.