Growing up in Minnesota, Megan trained extensively in Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, Jazz, and Hip-Hop for 15 years. At the young age of 17, Megan ventured to LA to pursue a professional dance career. Within a short 3 weeks, she was signed with an agency, and had landed her first job as a pointe dancer with the LXD. Soon after, she was off to Puerto Rico to dance in her first film; Disney Channel’s smash hit ‘Teen Beach Movie’. Megan has continued to appear on countless television shows like 90210, Switched at Birth, Victorious, The Voice, Good Morning America, The View, and Bunheads. Megan has worked closely with renowned choreographers like Christopher Scott, Brian Friedman, Marguerite Derricks, Lindsay Nelko, Lane Napper and more. Currently Megan resides in Los Angeles where she continues to train, teach, and work as a professional dancer, all while obtaining her associates degree in Merchandise Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, where she graduated from this past summer.
Now that you've learned a little about Megan, click the "Read More" tag to read the interview and check out her dance reel!
Now that you've learned a little about Megan, click the "Read More" tag to read the interview and check out her dance reel!
• So Megan, you are the cutest thing ever, but please, tell us the weirdest thing about yourself to get this interview started?
"Ooh okay, where to start…This is better question for my roommates, I’m sure they’d have loads of crazy weird things about me to share haha. Umm, I had headgear in 5th grade! And I definitely thought I was cool. I danced for hours every day after school and couldn’t wear it then, so I always had to wear it for an hour or two at school…and I loved the attention haha. Which I think is the most embarrassing part."
• As of now in your career, I’d say you’re most known for your dancing. When and where did you start dancing?
"I started dancing when I was 2! My mom put me in it in hopes that it would help my balance and make me less of a klutz. It hasn’t yet, but I still have hope haha. I started at a studio called Stage Door of Performing Arts in Minnesota, but ended at a company called Poetry in Motion Dance Company, which I would be absolutely nowhere without. Poetry is a big reason why I actually made the move to LA and have been able to work as a professional, so I am forever grateful to them for swooping me up! Thanks Stacy and Marce, haha ;)"
• What has been your biggest accomplishment so far in the dance world?
"The biggest one I am hoping is yet to come haha, I would love to do a world tour next. But, so far, I would have to say either Teen Beach Movie or being a part of the LXD! I remember seeing the LXD perform on some award shows when I was younger and thinking to myself “that’s what I want to do." So actually getting to do it, and with that group, was awesome. And growing up I had always dreamed of being on Disney Channel, so Teen Beach was a big one for me. Plus, it was my very first job as a professional dancer, so every moment of it was new and exciting. We got to live in paradise (Puerto Rico) for a few months and dance all day and get paid to do so, which was surreal. Easily the best experience of my life, so thanks Chris Scott and Jessica Keller for BOTH of these unreal opportunities."
• So, life in LA has to be amazing! What’s your favorite part about the West Coast?
"Work is my favorite part I think haha. I love the sunshine, but I’m a Minnesota girl at heart and miss it all the time. It’s the work that keeps me here for sure. And some pretty great friends."
• I know you’ve done professional dancing and have been on a few TV shows. Can you tell me about your experiences?
"I think the craziest thing to me was learning how much work goes into filming. Teen Beach for example…It would take us almost an entire day of filming (like 10-12 hours on set) to shoot one 3 minute dance number. For every change of camera angle there is, the crew needs to re-set all the cameras, lights, and equipment. So for a big dance number with lots of formation changes and sections, there are a lot of different camera angles that need to be filmed. Also, just how many people there are involved. There are so many tasks involved in filming, and there is a person assigned to each one of them, so it is always a bit crowded."
• I have to be honest, I creep on you way too often and saw a video of you singing; is that next for you? Whether it is or isn’t what actually is next?
"Haha! That is something I am working on! But, in the more immediate future, I am working on my acting career. I haven’t really sang for many people, so I’m taking it slow haha. It was actually my friend Riker and his family who got me to finally sing in front of people while we were in Puerto Rico. I was out of dancing all last year due to a couple of injuries, but it actually gave me some time to start the transition to the acting side of things! I actually just signed with a new Theatrical agency just last week! So I’m really excited to start venturing in that realm of the industry, as well."
• Any advice to those who want to venture out in the dance world?
"It is a rough industry, but also, I think, one of the most rewarding. It was always so straightforward growing up; work hard and you will accomplish what you want - But that’s not always the case out here. You can work your booty off and get nowhere for a long time. So the tough part is obviously to keep going, even if the end looks like you will never reach it. I truly believe that if you really can’t imagine yourself doing anything else, like you really really can’t…then it will happen for you (with continued hard work of course). Don’t quit."
Click below to watch Megan's Dance Reel! Prepare to be impressed!
"Ooh okay, where to start…This is better question for my roommates, I’m sure they’d have loads of crazy weird things about me to share haha. Umm, I had headgear in 5th grade! And I definitely thought I was cool. I danced for hours every day after school and couldn’t wear it then, so I always had to wear it for an hour or two at school…and I loved the attention haha. Which I think is the most embarrassing part."
• As of now in your career, I’d say you’re most known for your dancing. When and where did you start dancing?
"I started dancing when I was 2! My mom put me in it in hopes that it would help my balance and make me less of a klutz. It hasn’t yet, but I still have hope haha. I started at a studio called Stage Door of Performing Arts in Minnesota, but ended at a company called Poetry in Motion Dance Company, which I would be absolutely nowhere without. Poetry is a big reason why I actually made the move to LA and have been able to work as a professional, so I am forever grateful to them for swooping me up! Thanks Stacy and Marce, haha ;)"
• What has been your biggest accomplishment so far in the dance world?
"The biggest one I am hoping is yet to come haha, I would love to do a world tour next. But, so far, I would have to say either Teen Beach Movie or being a part of the LXD! I remember seeing the LXD perform on some award shows when I was younger and thinking to myself “that’s what I want to do." So actually getting to do it, and with that group, was awesome. And growing up I had always dreamed of being on Disney Channel, so Teen Beach was a big one for me. Plus, it was my very first job as a professional dancer, so every moment of it was new and exciting. We got to live in paradise (Puerto Rico) for a few months and dance all day and get paid to do so, which was surreal. Easily the best experience of my life, so thanks Chris Scott and Jessica Keller for BOTH of these unreal opportunities."
• So, life in LA has to be amazing! What’s your favorite part about the West Coast?
"Work is my favorite part I think haha. I love the sunshine, but I’m a Minnesota girl at heart and miss it all the time. It’s the work that keeps me here for sure. And some pretty great friends."
• I know you’ve done professional dancing and have been on a few TV shows. Can you tell me about your experiences?
"I think the craziest thing to me was learning how much work goes into filming. Teen Beach for example…It would take us almost an entire day of filming (like 10-12 hours on set) to shoot one 3 minute dance number. For every change of camera angle there is, the crew needs to re-set all the cameras, lights, and equipment. So for a big dance number with lots of formation changes and sections, there are a lot of different camera angles that need to be filmed. Also, just how many people there are involved. There are so many tasks involved in filming, and there is a person assigned to each one of them, so it is always a bit crowded."
• I have to be honest, I creep on you way too often and saw a video of you singing; is that next for you? Whether it is or isn’t what actually is next?
"Haha! That is something I am working on! But, in the more immediate future, I am working on my acting career. I haven’t really sang for many people, so I’m taking it slow haha. It was actually my friend Riker and his family who got me to finally sing in front of people while we were in Puerto Rico. I was out of dancing all last year due to a couple of injuries, but it actually gave me some time to start the transition to the acting side of things! I actually just signed with a new Theatrical agency just last week! So I’m really excited to start venturing in that realm of the industry, as well."
• Any advice to those who want to venture out in the dance world?
"It is a rough industry, but also, I think, one of the most rewarding. It was always so straightforward growing up; work hard and you will accomplish what you want - But that’s not always the case out here. You can work your booty off and get nowhere for a long time. So the tough part is obviously to keep going, even if the end looks like you will never reach it. I truly believe that if you really can’t imagine yourself doing anything else, like you really really can’t…then it will happen for you (with continued hard work of course). Don’t quit."
Click below to watch Megan's Dance Reel! Prepare to be impressed!