‘Creativity That Works’ Offers Students Career Skills as They Pursue Passions

Written by Chris Worthy

At Converse University, students hone their crafts in the classroom, but their education doesn’t stop at perfecting technique or finding their passion. Creativity That Works, an initiative of Converse’s School of the Arts, prepares students to work in their chosen field, where the possibilities are as limitless as an artist’s imagination.

This spring, six students from the Converse University Theatre and Dance Department attended a customized Career Track Day with the nonprofit Charlotte Ballet. Students were able to tailor the experience to their interests, allowing them to explore real world career paths in a professional arts organization. 

Designed intentionally in partnership with educators, including Converse University Instructors Carrie Preus and Allison Roux, the day was shaped by student interests, resulting in a relevant and meaningful connection to their academic and career goals.

A look behind the curtain

“Opportunities like Charlotte Ballet’s Career Track Day give students invaluable insight into the many pathways that exist within a successful career in the arts,” said Carrie Preus, a Converse University Instructor of Practice in Dance. 

“It was incredibly rewarding to watch my students engage thoughtfully throughout the day. Seeing their curiosity and excitement grow as they explored potential career paths reaffirmed the importance of creating opportunities that extend learning beyond the classroom and into the professional arts community.”

Kimberly Pereia, Charlotte Ballet’s Director of Education and Community Engagement, also underscores the value of integrating workforce development with the boundless creativity of arts students.

“Opportunities like Charlotte Ballet’s Career Track Day give students invaluable insight into the many pathways that exist within a successful career in the arts.”

Carrie Preus

“Programs like Career Track Day benefit everyone involved,” Pereia said. “For students, they make career possibilities feel real, attainable, and diverse. For universities, they strengthen experiential learning and connect academic training to professional practice. For arts organizations, they help cultivate future professionals, collaborators, and advocates.”

A glimpse into future careers

Converse Dance Major Katie Rhymer ’28 is preparing for a career in dance education. She said Career Track Day was a truly eye-opening experience. In addition to a backstage tour and an interview with a staff panel, Rhymer said hearing about the organization’s partnership with local schools “got my gears turning.”

“Listening to how they team up with the educators in the classroom to bring the art of dance to schools really opened up my eyes to exactly what my future could look like and gave me even more hope for my future in the world of dance,” she said. “Overall, this was a really incredible and insightful experience that was also a ton of fun, and I am so thankful I got to experience it alongside my fellow Theatre and Dance classmates and professor.”

“It was an opportunity I never thought I would get while still in college.”

Ron Connor ’27

Ron Connor ‘27, also a Converse Dance Major, said it was an honor to have this learning opportunity. “Seeing their facilities, sitting in for part of a rehearsal, and talking to professionals who run the organization has brought into focus the daily effort and reward inherent in artistic careers,” Connor said. “It was an opportunity I never thought I would get while still in college.”

Translating art to work

Creativity That Works is designed to reveal paths that are open to Converse’s arts students and offer a broad view of integrated, practical disciplines, including marketing, portfolio development, and career management.

“Experiences like the Charlotte Ballet’s Career Track Day help bridge the gap between classroom learning and the professional world,” Preus said. “Students see how the skills, techniques, and creative practices they develop at Converse University can translate directly into future careers in performance, arts administration, production, outreach, and other areas of the performing arts industry. 

Beyond the classroom

Creativity That Works opportunities continue to grow and evolve across The School of the Arts. During the spring semester, Dance students completed arts-integrated internships in conjunction with their Arts Administration minor: Rylie Budnick ’26 with ArtsUp SC and Emmalee Nutter ’27 with Arts in Motion in Spartanburg. 

This summer, Converse University students are working, growing, and learning alongside their future colleagues: a Music student is singing in the Berlin Opera, a Theatre student worked in a Greenville production of “Frozen,” and three others worked with a professional company in Columbia. 

In addition to these and other work-based learning opportunities, Creativity That Works also boosts students’ experiential learning through a variety of programs, such as the recent participation of Converse students Candace Day ’25 and Caroline Warr ’27 in the South Carolina Clay Conference, hosted by the Newberry Art Center.

Building careers in creativity

The arts are driven by creativity and passion, but they drive economic development, tourism, and career potential. Converse University students are learning that their futures are limitless and their career pathways are wide open.

Preus says opportunities like the Charlotte Ballet’s Career Track Day enrich her students’ educational experiences and give them an expanded outlook on careers in the arts. “Building meaningful partnerships with professional arts organizations provides access to mentorship, networking opportunities, and behind-the-scenes perspectives students might not otherwise encounter,” she shared. 

“These experiences encourage them to think more broadly about their professional aspirations while helping them better understand the collaboration, dedication, and artistry required to sustain a thriving arts organization.”