Winning isn't everything, but I never hated it.

     The dance competition world is EXTREMELY competitive. If it wasn't for the dance competition world, I don't know if I would have kept up with it as much as I did. Something about traveling to other places, getting up on that stage with judges in front of you, and winning always kept my adrenaline pumping. I loved being in my studio on the weekends, from early morning till night doing the dances over and over again just to shine for that 3 minutes on stage. Just to win that plastic trophy and share that $500.00 check with with the other 15 people in your group was all that mattered to me at one point.

     I was very blessed to grow up in such a great studio with hard working dancers and an amazing director. Everywhere we went we won. No, it wasn't always first place but that's what made us get right back in that studio and work even harder. We were raised to always have good sportsmanship.We were taught to always congratulate the other dancers, clap for everyone,compliment, be humble about your winnings and no matter what try your best and have fun. My team was so supportive of each other and that is one thing I am passing down to my students. Every time I teach any combination in my classes I ask my students to split up into groups. This is beneficial to me because I can concentrate on my students more as an individual and beneficial to them because they can see the way others are dancing and get inspired. One of my "rules" is to clap and cheer on your fellow dancers before and after they dance, no matter if they messed up or rocked it. It is important to me that all my kids carry confidence with them because not only does it help in the dance world but it also helps in the real world. It takes a lot for these kids to get up on stage in front of all these people and perform and I am so proud of the way my kids always rock not only the stage but in the classroom as well.

       One of the most exciting and memorable moments in my dance competition career was in my last year of dancing with my team. I was in around 15 dances my senior year of dance. One of the contemporary pieces I was in was choreographed by one of my best friends and fellow dancers, Ralphie Picciarelli. The dance was titled, "Hallelujah" and there was seven girls apart of this amazing piece. As you know every dance should have a "story" and this story took place in the 50's. We were stay at home housewives who had the perfect life of cooking, cleaning, taking care of the kids, always dressed with the finest of pearls with dinner waiting on the table for our husbands. From the outside everything was perfect and they were always smiling, but behind closed doors they were tired, felt unloved, beaten on and trapped.

 
       This dance (excuse my french) kicked so much ass at competition and we won the national finals in New Jersey that year. We worked so hard to perfect this dance, there were many rehearsals of bickering, crying, hysterical laughter, one to many bruises from jumping into thin air and falling straight on our knees but most of all great memories. This dance brought us seven girls so close and winning with them felt so good. I will never forget standing on that stage with at least 40 other dancers waiting for them to announce the winner, instead of calling out "Hallelujah" right away, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop and they played our music. All seven of us screamed and broke down into tears not only because we were so happy but this was also our last time dancing all together before most of us were off to college. This is one moment I will forever remember and I hold it very close to my heart. I can't wait for my kids to experience this in their upcoming years and will forever remind them that dedicated + hard work = success.

Going back 20 years . . .

   

This picture was my first tap dance when I was 4.

   Long Island, N.Y. was a great place to grow up. New York City was only a short train ride away and I can remember constantly going to Broadway shows,

thanks to my Mom and Aunt who love nothing more than to plan trips. I think that is why I was so focused on Broadway being my profession when I was younger. I started dancing when I was around 2 or 3, my friend Erica was put in a dance class so I am assuming my mother put me in one for that reason. I remember my first ballet performance I was dressed in a little red and white costume with bunny ears and a tail and danced to "Bunnies with a PHD". My mom said my arms were perfect and I knew exactly what I was doing, haha. Little did she know she was creating a monster.

   The first dance studio I danced at was called Backstreets Dance Center, I never remember switching to another studio because I was too young but I then continued to dance at Nancy's Dance Factory where the real dancing began. My mom put me in EVERY class she possibly could. I loved being on stage and as I grew older I was asked to join their company at the age of 8 or 9. Back then competition was so much different and I loved competing and it didn't matter if we got bronze, silver or gold we just wanted the ribbons and trophies. Nancy eventually had me traveling about an hour away to take class and train with the other competitive dancers because she closed the studio in my area (at that time she had 3). At the time we were a studio to "look out for" but the fact that it was far away was hard. 

     At school my friend Gina was telling me where she danced and before I knew it I was a competitive dancer at Michelle Ferraro's Dance U.S.A. and I was never so happy to be part of such an amazing team. I switched studios when I was 12 years old and didn't leave until it was time to graduate and move on. Switching studios is usually frowned upon but I never broke ties with my old teacher Nancy, she understood the inconvenience and I remember her telling me as long as I never gave up on dance she would be happy for me. Nancy actually owns Dance X-Plosion, a well known talent competition, and would always make an effort to congratulate me and tell me how proud she was of me even though I was apart of a "rival" of hers. 

     Growing up with my MFDUSA(Michelle Ferraro's Dance USA) family was the best moments of my life. Yes there was drama but more laughs, smiles and trophies than tears. Michelle taught me a lot of lessons in not only dance but in life, she was a second mother to not only me but most of her students. MFDUSA was a force to be reckon with and definitely still maintains that power today. My best friends came from my dance studio and are still my best friends till this very day. Every excuse was, " I CAN'T, I HAVE REHEARSAL", or I just rather hang with my dance friends. I was at that studio EVERY weekend with my team and can still hear the yelling to motivate us in the back of my head everyday. At MFDUSA I trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Acrobatics, Hip-Hop, Musical Theater, Lyrical/Contemporary, even some Spanish moves being my director was Puerto rican. She always brought in outside choreographers from all over to better us, work harder and push ourselves. I owe Michelle one of the biggest THANK YOU'S from the bottom of my heart for always pushing me, yelling at me, believing me and inspiring me to get me to where I am today. I pass down everything I learned to my "kids" and that's what I hope they will do in the future. This is my MFDUSA family at a competition. 

      Now that I am all "grown-up" I moved to Florida and found Joanne's Dance Center. JDC is my new family and I love everything about it. It is hard work being a dance teacher but I wouldn't trade it for the world. My dancing years went by way to fast for me but now I get to watch my students, learn, grow and pursuit their love for dance. These are the best years of their lives and they don't even know it yet, their still concerned if they did well enough in class to earn a sticker today. 

Teaching dance isn't really a job . . .

           I am so excited for my first blog! One of the dance moms has a blog and she really inspired me to start one of my own. Talking with my best friend Bradlie everyday we always say we need our own T.V. show, but a blog will just have to do for now.

           My name is Meagan and I am a dance teacher. One of the main reasons why I wanted to start this blog was because I've heard one to many people say, "A dance teacher?! What a fun thing to do, its not really considered a job though right?" UMMM WHAT! Yes it is a very fun thing to do and I consider it to be way more than just a job. Growing up in the dance field and trying to make it in the dancing field is extremely hard. Auditions, competitions, conventions, MONEY, drama, costumes, time, and passion are just a handful of things that go into this "JOB". Someone could be the most phenomenal dancer, but that doesn't mean they could teach.

          I've had numerous request of acquaintances asking me for a job in the dance studio that I am teaching at and although I love them as people, and love everyone who takes a chance on dance I knew they really didn't have a clue. I have had my fair share of hard working students, crazy dance moms, not-so hardworking students, the yelling, the crying the backstabbing, oh yes DANCE DRAMA!. But for every crazy parent and lazy kid, there is always 10 more dedicated students who want to learn with amazing support systems and that I am so thankful for. It is not easy being a dance teacher but man is it rewarding. I thrive on seeing my older students kick butt on and off stage from my toddlers itching to show me a pirouette in their new tu-tu. Being a teacher made me realize that everyone learns different. I teach ages 3 to 33, special needs, advanced, beginner, whoever wants to learn I will teach them.

          I find it appalling that people think that anyone can do this. I've had students come in from other studio's explaining that they have danced for almost 7 years and still don't know the difference between a demi-plie and a grande. Now don't get me wrong I was never a prima-ballerina, being 4'11 its actually impossible, but I was blessed to be well trained in ALL areas of dance. If I wanted to be in that hip-hop dance you best believe my butt was in 3 ballet classes a week. I HATED ballet, I would skip class, get kicked out or find the lamest excuse to not take. It saddens me that I didn't realize until I was 16 that I was stupid for not being more serious about ballet.

           It really makes my heart smile when my students tell me they want to be a dance teacher and I would never shut down there dreams instead I encourage them and say, "well you better never quit and get your butt to work, NOW." Teaching dance was something I never thought about, I always wanted to be on Broadway, not sing or act, just dance on Broadway. Singing was never my thang. Then I realized to audition you need to sing at least one song and remember a couple lines and that was NOT happening. My older students are always pushing me to audition with them and I think I have to now, what kind of teacher would I be?

           I think what a lot of "non-dance teachers" fail to realize that it is the beginning of August and us dance teachers are inside on the computer downloading music that inspires us, making remixes and editing all of those hip hop songs, choreographing in our living rooms, drawing up costumes, registering new students, watching tapes from recital and competitions to see where we need work, teaching during the summer while working our other jobs to pay rent and bills, and maybe vacuum once a month. I don't just come to the studio tell your kid to point their toes and straighten their legs. I am doing everything in my power for them to find their passion for the art of dancing. I want nothing but the best for my dancers and I will always be here for them. I want them to have fun and cherish all the time with their dance friends and teachers.

         I will forever live by the quote, " I don't want dancers who just simply want to dance, I want dancers who HAVE to dance." I only want to teach someone who wants to be taught, I only want to teach the dancers that want more than to learn how to do 7 turns. I want so much more for your kids than you think because I simply love not only the dancers I see in them but them as a human in general. The bond I share with my students is very special to me and this is not just a side job for me, THIS IS MY LIFE.