Aerialists: Which Creative Personality Are You?

I’ll admit it - I love a good quiz!  We all have a special “zone” in the creative process where we feel right at home.  Whether working on a performance piece, building a show, or running a studio, this quiz reveals which stage within the creative process makes you shine brightest.  And you know me - cited sources are at the end.  Have fun!

Take the quiz!

When getting dressed for training, I:
a)  Wear whatever feels right.  Sometimes I don’t even match.
b)  Consider my goals/to-dos that day and dress accordingly.
c)  Put together coordinated outfits.

When choreographing a piece, my favorite part is:
a)  Improvising!  I feel at home tossing around 100 different ideas.
b)  Making a statement. I want my piece to have a clear purpose and intent.
c)  Refining the details.  Each gesture and moment contributes to the whole.

When collaborating with others, I am the one who:
a)  Brings a shoebox full of ideas to the table.
b)  Reminds the group to focus on the goal of the project.
c)  Shapes the vision into a neat and tidy finished product.

The training advice I relate to most is:
a)  Consider all the movement possibilities within each skill.
b)  Work harder and toughen up.
c)  Clean lines and fluid technique make all the difference.

Which statement is most true for you?
a)  I am inspired by feeling.
b)  I am driven by purpose.
c)  I am focused on details.

My favorite objects are:
a)  Anything with texture and color.  When shopping I always touch the products on the shelf!
b)  Tools.  Whether its a great web app or a hammer, I like things that help get a job done.
c)  Frames.  I like finished edges that showcase the images they surround.

One of my faults is:
a)  Getting distracted easily.  I have so many ideas I don’t know what to do with them all.
b)  Digging in and not wanting to change, OR wanting everyone else to change.
c)  Getting so bogged down in the details that I forget about the big picture.

I am most excited when:
a)  Exploring a new apparatus or idea.
b)  Mastering a skill I’ve been training for months, and moving on to the next challenge.
c)  Showcasing what I’ve learned for family and friends.

The life stage I most relate to is:
a)  Youth. The wonder of childhood reminds me to explore and be creative.
b)  Teenage Years. I often give advice to those dealing with tough situations.
c)  Adulthood. I enjoy seeing a career come to fruition and think often about legacies.

My favorite apparatus is:
a)  Invented apparatus, or aerial fabric. There are so many possibilities!
b)  Static trapeze, rope, or straps.  I like the stability and linear movement.
c)  Aerial hoop or cube.  It frames my lines beautifully.

During performances, people come to me for:
a)  Group warm-up games.
b)  Advice in balancing a handstand or sticking a tricky move.
c)  Scissors. And eyelash glue. And a sewing kit.

The backstage advice I give most often  is:
a)  Enjoy the moment.
b)  Just do it.  You've got this.
c)  Your rosin is right here.

The word that best describes me is:
a)  whimsical
b)  methodical
c)  polished

My favorite part of performing is:
a)  Playing with different hair and make-up ideas.  The piece is never done!
b)  Setting up. I can haul chairs, pop popcorn, or do whatever job needs doing.
c)  Seeing everyone’s pieces come to fruition.

I most prefer:
a)  Playtime.
b)  A hard workout.
c)  Finishing things.

Tally your number of a’s _______   b’s ________  c’s ________

And here are the results!

Mostly a’s:  The Explorer
You are an adventurer and creative to the core!  Your many ideas win you friends all over, and your whimsical spirit is infectious.  You dabble in many different projects, often handing off your ideas to others to finish.  You tend to like mornings, youth and anything with the word, “new.”  While you may have trouble deciding which projects to focus on (and can’t even fathom finishing anything), your ability to offer ideas to others makes you a prized member of any group.

Mostly b’s:  The Driver
You are on a mission.  Everything you do is intentional, with clear purpose.  You are known for drilling tough moves again and again, inspiring others to do the same.  When a challenge arises, you are just the one to get the job done.  People often seek your advice when in difficult situations.  Sometimes you dig your heels and resist change (or try to change others to your way of thinking), but your talent for coping with struggle is one your community can use.

Mostly c’s:  The Publisher
You are a curator of the complete.  You relish in seeing projects come to fruition.  Your eye for finishing touches shows others that the devil is in the details.  Clean lines, including straight knees and pointed feet, give you a sense of peace and calm.  You are the perfect person to sew on a detached sequin, or save the day with your well stocked performance kit.  Sometimes you get bogged down in details and forget about the big picture.  But your talent for seeing things through to the very last lighting cue is vital to a smoothly running show.

Sources:  This quiz was inspired by Dr. Charles Johnston’s Creative Systems Theory (personality types are based on Early, Middle, and Late Axes), and Warren Lamb’s Movement Pattern Analysis .  Lamb, a student of Rudolf Laban, looks at movement to understand people’s decision making patterns.

What results did you get?
Tell us about it in the comments section below, and please share with friends!

About the Author:  Julianna Hane traded life on a cotton farm to become a dancer and aerialist.  She is the author of the Aerial Teacher's Handbook and Director of Training for Born to Fly Productions.