Name/age/what you do
Megan Preston, 23, founder of Awareness Through Dance and London Dance Programme.
What does your creative work involve?
It involves providing inspiring opportunities for young performers as well as support and advice for aspiring and current professional dancers.
London is one of the most influential dance cities in the world and I am so excited about its future especially when I see the next generation of dancers and choreographers. I started London Dance programme to give dancers all over the world a chance to experience a London dancer’s lifestyle.
Awareness Through Dance provides volunteering experiences outside of the UK for performers who believe they can use their talent to have a positive impact on the world.
Describe a typical day
No day is the same; I guess that’s true of most self-employed artists and entrepreneurs. One day I can be in rehearsal or teaching and the next I might be sat at a desk for 12 hours working on a project, coming up with ideas and answering a LOT of emails. I like it that way, I like to be in control of my schedule, and be able to be flexible and travel when I want to.
Tell us about one thing in your IdeasTap portfolio that you’re proud of
Awareness Through Dance! Last year I had the crazy idea of taking a group of young professional dancers to Africa, to expose them to life in the slums of Nairobi, encourage them to fundraise a lot of money for our partnered charity and, to top it off, climb Kilimanjaro, the highest free standing mountain in the world.
After a lot of hard work and a few tears, we did it. We raised £40,000 and, I hope, helped to create an unforgettable experience for all involved, as well as having a positive impact on the ground in Kenya. The support we received from the dance industry was incredible and proved that art really can make a difference.
How did you learn your craft?
As a dancer I trained here in the UK and in New York. As for business though, I’ve had no training, I had no idea how to start a company and so I learnt on the job, and through making mistakes! We have access to so many resources nowadays, if you want to learn something, you can – and pretty quickly! If you have a vision and determination, you just do what you have to do to make it happen.
Are there any big lessons that you’ve learnt in your career so far?
I used to succumb to people’s beliefs that dance not a “real” career and I lacked confidence in my ability to be a professional. As I’ve got older I’ve recognised that being a successful professional dancer is running a successful business. It takes risk, courage, time and energy.
Not enough dancers or self-employed artists think like this – I wish I’d been taught more about business in my dance training.
In a parallel universe, what would you be doing instead?
I’d like to think I’d end up doing something similar – anything creative that gives me a sense of fulfillment!
What are you up to at the moment?
Right now I am putting together the ATD trip to Ghana in 2015 (if you want to join us, applications are still open). With London Dance Programme, we have a summer programme and an On Broadway Intensive course coming up. Other than that I’m just dancing, you’ll find me teaching at Pineapple Dance Studios every Wednesday and Thursday.
Who are you looking to connect with on IdeasTap?
Anybody who is inspired by the work I do, believes they have some parallels and shares my vision of a better world. I might be able to make small changes to people’s lives, but collectively we can do more.
Would you like to be featured in Meet...? Get in touch ideasmag@ideastap.com
To be considered, you must have been an IdeasTap member for at least three months, have a photo on your profile and work uploaded to your portfolio.
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