Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Taylor.
Megan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up dancing my entire life, it has always been my largest passion and driving force. I began dancing at Chamberlain Performing Arts when I was 15 and from there, received my degree from Texas Christian University with a BFA in modern dance and a double minor in English and Education. Upon graduating in 2013 I returned to Chamberlain Performing Arts, this time as the instructor for the Releve After School dance program which provides free dance classes to low income children within the community.
As I continued in my role as the Releve Instructor I added to it the role of Administrative Assistant. I learned a ton about finances, budgeting, office management, and enjoyed working with the guest artists we bring in for our performances. I also expanded my work-load and began serving as the grant writer. I loved all of the various roles that I was engaged in; however, my heart truly lies with the outreach programs. In our 2016-2017 season I was promoted to Director of Outreach and was able to shift my focus to all things outreach related, I was ecstatic!
Since I began working at Chamberlain in 2013 the Releve After School program has grown immensely and now serves over 5 locations in Collin and Dallas County, our Shining Stars program which serves special needs children and young adults is expanding and is now even being offered for free, and our Community Connections program reaches over 1,400 individuals and families each year with free tickets to our performance of The Nutcracker.
I currently serve as the Director of Outreach and Grant Writer for Chamberlain Performing Arts and am so blessed to be able to say that I truly love my job. I live in McKinney with my husband and our two dogs, and we are expecting our first baby in January!
Has it been a smooth road?
Teaching over 200 students a week is certainly not an easy task as my students come from a drastic variety of backgrounds but having the support from my boss, Kathy Chamberlain, truly makes it easier! The most difficult part of my job is an emotional one. My students share the stories of their daily lives with me and it breaks my heart to hear the reality of what some of these children live with on a daily basis. From homelessness to not knowing where their next meal may come from, to not knowing where they may be living in a week, it is so humbling to know that dance class is one of the small ways these children find joy in the midst of the challenges of their lives. I simply do my best to be a positive role model to them and to help them find an escape through dance and a passion that could help them for years to come.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Chamberlain Performing Arts – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Chamberlain Performing Arts is the premier, pre-professional performing company in North Texas. Kathy Chamberlain founded the company in 1984 with a mission to present excellent ballet to enrich the North Texas community, enlighten with arts education, and encourage through outreach programs. My primary roles include grant writing, teaching weekly dance classes through our Releve Dance Program, overseeing the Shining Stars program which provides free dance classes to special needs children and young adults, and coordinating our Community Connections performance which provides free tickets to our annual performance of The Nutcracker to social service agencies targeting mostly low income and special needs community members. I am proud of how Chamberlain Performing Arts has remained committed to its mission and engaging in our community for over 3 decades! We continually seek to collaborate and partner with other, local non-profits and arts groups, and look forward to the future of dance in our Plano community!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Growing up as a Plano resident I love how the City has worked to keep the arts alive and thriving. The Downtown Arts District in Plano is revitalized and I enjoy seeing the comradery between arts groups.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3003 W. 15th St Plano, TX 75075
- Website: chamberlainperformingarts.org
- Phone: 469-909-7403
- Email: megan.taylor@chamberlainperformingarts.org
- Instagram: chamberlainperformingarts
- Facebook: Chamberlain Performing Arts
Image Credit:
Ryan Williams
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