Father's Study

D. Andrew Carr

Revised Dec 2007 and subject to correction.

Post-Doctoral Position: UNC Charlotte
Research Goal: Cancer prevention

Ph.D. BioInformatics: George Mason University
BA Mathematics with honors: Indiana University
BA School of Music in Ballet: Indiana University
Member: Phi Beta Kappa

Topics:

Ballet________________________________________

Ballet Performance

Andrew told us he wanted to dance and began at age 4.
So far he has performed in the Nutcracker every year since.
Our family has many wonderful memories of him in different
Nutcracker roles. His entrance in the Arabian with a
partner balanced on one hand overhead still sticks
in my mind. As he lowers her with his right arm and
wrapps her around his upper body I am thinking my
shoulder would fail.

A special proud father moment occurred soon after I took
a faculty position at GMU. A little background helps set
the stage. I used to be in productions of the Richland, Washington
Light Opera Company. In my first years I was pretty much
relegated to the chorus. The performances were often in a local
middle school. Nonetheless I was eager to show my children
backstage after they attended a performance.

Soon after we arrived in the DC area Andrew got a scholarship with the Young
Dancers of the Washington Ballet. About two months later a
company member of the Washington Ballet blew out a knee a day
before the first performance of Carmena Burana in Kennedy Center.
Andrew was ask to fill in. He had watch a rehearsal previously.
To the considerable relief of all, he went to the right places and
did the right things in his very first rehearsal. Of course Jean
and I rushed to get tickets to see opening night.
As you may have have guessed, after the performance Andrew
asked if I wanted to look backstage at Kennedy Center.

Andrew danced with the Sacramento Ballett and Kansas City Ballet
for several years. I regret not going to see him perform as part of
these companies. He has been guest artist with several companies

One highlight for me was seeing Andrew perform in major role with
the New York City Ballet company. This was a performance at Indiana
University during Andrew's senior year in college. Seeing him slice
through air was a joy.

Andrew is an outstanding ballet instructor.
He continued to teach while he was a full time Ph.D.
student in bioinformatics. During summers he flew
to several cities around the US teaching master dance classes.

Perhaps I am biased, but I also think he also has a special gift
for choreography. My limited artistic vocabulary fails. The best I
can say is that he creates geometric transformations that surprise
and delight.

Statistics______________________________________________

During some summers he worked as a statistician for
the National Agriculture Statistical Service and for
the Bureau of Labor Statistics
He has two publications in statistics journals.

Consideration and repairing things_____________________________

Andrew has the ability fix things like my father did
This has include plumbing, flooring, eletronics, software, etc.
He likes to help people and does so.
When we worked in the same statisical setting for a while
and Andrew was not around, people would ask me about him.
This would continue long after he moved on to other work.
His consideration of people and willingness to help have
been appreciated by many

Hobbies__________________________________

Classical guitar during period of his life when there is time.

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