Senior Megan Wang has loved to dance for as long as she can remember. Since she was four years old and living in Shanghai, China, she has taken many ballet lessons and has expanded her skills to include contemporary, modern, jazz, hip-hop and character dance. For her, dance is a way to express emotions that words can’t fully capture.
Though Wang sees ballet as her main genre of dance—having been a part of numerous Nutcracker productions—she fell in love with contemporary dance as well. It’s now her favorite genre because it’s the one that she can dance most freely in. She pursues both ballet and contemporary dance through the Dance 4 class at Poly alongside her classmates and Middle and Upper School Performing Arts teacher Danielle Pigneri.
For Poly’s 2024 fall dance concert, “Epiphany,” Wang choreographed “Illuminate,” a piece featuring eighteen fellow dancers.
“I used standing light bulbs to symbolize finding hope in the dark,” she shared. “It was inspired by my story of moving across the world from Shanghai to L.A. I felt kind of lonely for a bit, but dance was always a way for me to channel my emotions into something, and that piece was kind of inspired by that journey.”
“Megan’s piece this fall was super creative and very innovative,” said Pigneri. “She worked hard on crafting every moment and every detail and the piece turned out wonderfully.”
Freshman Caralee Wang, who danced in “Illuminate,” added, “It was great to see Megan’s creativity and leadership shine through the dance. She motivated the other dancers, even during the stress of the show.”
Outside of school, Wang trains at the Marat Daukayev School of Ballet, a Russian dance studio where she takes classes and rehearses weekly. Her favorite time of the year is the tech week leading up to “The Nutcracker.” She has performed a variety of roles, from Sugarplum to Dewdrop, and loves the energy and teamwork that build up before opening night.
“Everyone’s true passion for dance is made clear during this time despite the stress and thrill of the week,” she shared.
Wang also believes that dance should be open to interpretation and a dancer’s passion is just as important as their technique.
“You can really tell if somebody loves dance just by watching them perform. So if you really love it, you should be able to convey that to the audience,” she explained.
Wang feels that dancing with others motivates her to continue pursuing dance. She is inspired by the other hard working dancers around her and feels a connection with all of them, whether they are planning to dance professionally or if they are just striving to become better dancers for themselves.
Even though Wang doesn’t see herself joining a professional ballet company, she plans to continue dancing at whichever school she attends. Whether through a dance program or a student club, she hopes to find people who share her passion and continue growing as a dancer.
For Wang, dance is more than a hobby—it’s a way to connect, express and enjoy art with others.
