We recently connected with Meghan Way Stinson and have shared our conversation below.

Meghan , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Growing up, I was trained in all styles, but early on had an extra special passion for tap dance. I had a difficult time finding people in my area (& my studio) who shared my dedication & desire to absorb everything about this art form.

I often felt overlooked & left out at dance competitions when the majority of my peers were performing more widespread styles such as contemporary & jazz.

Since then, my desire has been to help those who feel isolated in their passion find others across the country who are also looking to belong to a larger tap dance community.

I truly believe dance can be a powerful vessel for building character & confidence through courageously putting yourself fully out there physically, mentally, emotionally, & spiritually.

My mission is to help young dancers find a place where they feel seen and included while also providing them with pre-professional industry opportunities through film, photo, stage, and other creative media experiences.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Straight out of high school, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a professional career. What no one told me was that industry auditions can require a completely different skill set than competitive dance. Performing on set, on camera, interviewing, participating in photo shoots, teaching live classes, and now the social media experience requires a confidence and skill set that is different than performing live on stage.

Although I felt underprepared in making the jump from amateur to professional, 2 things helped me survive and make it as a full-time dancer: building relationships and learning to adapt to the job. That’s why I love gathering tap dancers together from around the country and sharing some of the wisdom I’ve learned.

Two of my latest projects are focused on mentorship & film.

The first is a Tap Dance Soloist Mentorship Program. I’ll be launching this in the fall with online & in-person options for dancers who want more training in dance & guidance in life. This is done through choreography work, coaching sessions, monthly check-ins, private lessons & feedback, and mastermind community meetings with all my mentees.

Most people don’t understand or fully appreciate what we do as tap dancers. Even professional judges at competitions can struggle to give good feedback if they’re not an expert tap dancer themselves.

I have been a competition judge for over 15 years and have literally judged over 50,000 competition dances. Through that experience and seeing the dances I choreograph compete, I have learned what it takes for a tap solo to stand out and win against other, more popular styles.

It believe it comes down to 3 things: compelling choreography, strong technique and a dynamic performance. When all 3 of those come together, you can blow away any audience. I’ve designed my mentorship program specifically to ensure my tap soloists put all those pieces together to finish among the top dancers at any competition, while creating a lasting impression on the audience.

However, dance training can only take you so far. What has made me successful more than anything else is learning to be disciplined, to be a life-long learner, and to build up others around me. I want to pass that on to my students.

I want to see my students grow as people just as much as dancers. Over the course of the season, I help my students discover who they can become through the vessel of dance.

The second project, “Tap On Location” is a 4-Day Tap Dance Video Shoot Experience held over the summer in Austin & Chicago. Dancers come from all over the country to participate in this experience, and learn choreography prior to traveling in to the event’s location.

Over the course of the 4 days dancers are exposed to on-camera training through film & photography, master classes with professional dancers, on-set sound recording, and fun bonding experiences such as a video scavenger hunt while sightseeing.

Our main project is a short tap dance film that combines story, movement, and rhythm that is shot, edited, & mixed during the event. The final product is screened & celebrated at our Red Carpet Gala on the last day of the event.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I had an incredible mentor named Gregg Russell who taught me the following ideas. I believe some of these things have helped me be set apart in a crowded industry.

The importance of being reliable.
Artists have a reputation for being flakey and changing their minds. However, if you want to go far, you need to be seen as someone who can be counted on. When you do what you say you’ll do and show up prepared, your peers, teachers, and future employers will trust you. Trust opens the door to many opportunities and keeps those doors open.

How to be known for something AND be well-rounded.
It’s great to learn all styles of dance (I recommend it), but it’s best not just to be a Jack or Jill of all trades. If you want to stand out and get new opportunities, you also need to become a master of one. Being a great tap dancer puts you in a sweet spot. There’s always a need for more great tap teachers and performers, but not many to be found. Once you land tap-specific opportunities, people will figure out you’re also great at other styles. If you’re also reliable, you’re in!

Amplify your strengths.
As you progress as a performer, you realize that some elements of dance come to you more easily. There’s a temptation to put tons of effort into bringing up your weaknesses to match your strengths. Instead, I have learned it’s better to channel your strengths. Put most of your effort into amplifying your strengths to make your uniqueness stand out, while putting just enough effort into growing in your weak areas so they don’t hinder you.

“If you’re having fun, they’re having fun”.
Laughter creates memories & bonds that can last a lifetime. As a recovering perfectionist, I’ve learned it’s so important not to take yourself and others too seriously. When we’re hard on ourselves and highly critical of others, it stunts joy and growth. Bringing fun into the room creates an environment where people are relaxed and able to really feel like they can truly be themselves and be fully seen. So that’s why I always strive to make learning & working hard a fun activity.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Being my own boss, I’ve had to unlearn the myth that my time and energy are limitless.

For example, when you have a set credit card limit, and you go past that, your card is declined and unusable. It’s a clear, tangible boundary. But, energy and time are not like money in that sense. They are ideas that are unseen until you feel the consequences from being stressed and running late, or dragging by burnt out on little sleep.

If you don’t set your own boundaries and hold yourself accountable, you run the risk of crashing and burning out, which is bad for both your personal health and the health of your business. I’ve reached this point a couple times in my life, and I’ve watched it happen countless times to colleagues in my industry.

You are created as a human “being”, and not a human “doing”, so sometimes you need to just be. You need to actually let your brain process information. You need to sit and think. Sometimes the best ideas come from the pause.

It’s easy to lose sight of your purpose when you focus only on the task hustle.
Sometimes you have to take 1 step back to go 2 steps forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.meghanwaystinson.com
• Instagram: @meggywaystins, @taponlocation
• Facebook: Meghan Way Stinson
• Youtube: @MeghanWayStinson
• Other: Email: meghanwaystinson@gmail.com

Image Credits

Alyssa Park
Serkan Zanagar