Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Warnick.
Hi Megan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
With where I came from this wasn’t the obvious professional path. I come from a line of entrepreneurs with two left feet who are very business savvy. I was born a mover and lover of music which eventually turned into my mom putting me in a dance class at the age of 5. The second I stepped onto the stage I knew that was what I wanted to do. My parents knew it too. From that point, they bolstered an environment of creativity for me and my sisters. Dance has brought me many amazing life experiences and helped create relationships with some of the most unique and talented individuals. Dance has taken me around the world to Germany and over 150 cities touring professionally in the states. It has been a creative outlet and turned into how I can express myself most freely. My current focus has been creating my own professional dance company with hopes of giving dancers in Utah more opportunities to have an extended dance career past high school. I named my company ‘Shift’ with the purpose of shifting the mindset in dance and the arts. Dance is a unique avenue in which people can be moved without the expression of words. My goal is for each dancer on my company to feel important and valued while we hopefully leave a positive impact as well on our audience. I feel blessed to have my passion be my profession.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I feel very blessed to have the support and resources I’ve had along the way. In most worthwhile things that are done, there will be obstacles and we’ve been no exception to that. I really believe that you attract what you focus on. I try to deal with challenges as they come while maintaining a positive focus and direction.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Shift dance company is a professional company offering dancers in Utah more opportunities to use their talents. Many dancers that want a professional career feel like they need to move out of the state to chase their dreams. Dance is very popular in Utah and there is so much talent here that needs to be seen. I am grateful to get to train young artists and help them create a path to dance professionally while staying in their home state. Shift specializes in the genres of contemporary and jazz. We always want our audience to feel something when they come to watch. When talent and storytelling work together it creates magic! I am most proud of all the opportunities Shift has given to dancers already in such a short amount of time. Our dancers have performed in our Shift performances, industrial conventions opening for Carrie Underwood and dancing with Collin Raye and William Joseph just to name a few. We have been able to provide paid jobs for dancers as well as given back to the community performing in benefit concerts and nonprofits to help suicide awareness. Using our talents to help others is what I believe sets us apart.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I am hopeful that more opportunity will come for Utah dancers. Utah has been a hub where talent has been created and shipped off to other states for professional opportunities. Utah needs to be a place where talent is created and stored. While dance brings a lot of joy to many, it has also been the source of pain for some. I believe sometimes competition overshadows the purpose of dance leaving space for negativity and hurt. I am hopeful that that future of the dance community will be more focused on building each other up and creating space where every person can dance and feel welcomed.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: shiftdanceco
Image Credits
Greg Baird
Sierra Chamberlian
