Today we’d like to introduce you to CJ Babb.
Thanks for sharing your story with us CJ. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I moved to Atlanta when I was 13. I’d always had an interest in performing, but at the time I was more into film acting. I transferred to Pebblebrook High School for my sophomore year, to be an acting major. I was quickly placed into the dance program just a week into the school year, and by my second semester I has changed my major from acting to dance.
I joined Pebblebrook’s intensive extracurricular program, Company, the following year. By the time I’d graduated in 2013, I’d received a professional level of training that most performers don’t get until at least a collegiate level. I then worked with a couple of professional ballet companies around the south and Midwest, but I ultimately found that that ballet company culture was not a good fit for me at the time.
It was then that a friend of mine told me about an audition for Carnival Cruise Line. I showed up to the audition and was given a contract that day! I then did six contracts with Carnival over the course of four years. Interspersed among those years were short contracts here in town with the Atlanta Lyric Theater, opportunities that were given to me by my former high school dance teacher Cindy Mora Reiser, who happened to be a choreographer for the theatre company. By the time I decided to finish up with ship life in 2018, I had built a wonderful relationship with the Atlanta theatre community. I did two shows more shows with Atlanta Lyric Theater, one with Serenbe Playhouse, and two with the brand new City Springs Theatre Company, where I quickly felt at home. I was then offered a season contract with City Springs, which kicked off with their very magical production of Mary Poppins! Looking forward to the rest of the season!
Has it been a smooth road?
One of the things that I struggled with was during my four years working and performing on cruise ships. While it is an incredible gig that gives you opportunities to travel and meet new people, all while doing what you love, it also comes with a very specific set of challenges. One needs to be ready to socialize in a guest friendly manner at all times, something I struggled with at first due to social anxiety. It can also be a grueling schedule, eight shows per week, all while performing other duties throughout the ship and doing what you can to ensure that the guests are enjoying themselves. It can also get difficult to be away from friends and family back home, for up to nine months at a time. And as a performer, it’s very easy to start feeling burnt out from performing the same shows over and over again for months on end. Luckily I made amazing friends on each contract that formed a fantastic support system, and I learned over time that self-care is essential for the longevity a career as a performer. I carved out time each week to take myself on an adventure in port, or go for a solo coffee date onboard the ship, or sit in the library and dive into a good book, or even just do a face mask after a show! Those little things combined with the support of friends and family are what got me through my ship days.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m an independently contracted performer here in the Atlanta area. Most of my training and experience is in dance, though I have experience in acting and singing as well, which is something I feel any performer should be able to say if they want to be competitive in the industry. I’m proud of my ability to bring my own personal touch to every performance, it’s something that I worked really hard to develop when I was working on ships doing the same shows over and over. I learned how to make each show new and interesting for me, which then carries over and makes it interesting and fun for the audience to watch! Whether it’s lifting the leg a little higher, singing the note with a slightly different intention, or even just a cheeky wink in the audience’s direction, just little things like that make an audience feel like they’re getting a special performance, which they are!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
One thing I love about the Atlanta area that I can get a taste of urban lifestyle without feeling cramped or overwhelmed. There’s so much to do, regardless of what your personal likes or interests are, there’s something for everyone. The thing I like least about this town is by far the traffic!
Contact Info:
- Phone: 3107217718
- Email: cjbabb14@gmail.com
- Instagram: @cjfabb
Image Credit:
Boivin Photographe, Ronnie Pollard Photography, personal photos
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