We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Long and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Creativity has lived within me since I was a little girl. It has been an inner pulse that has driven me to move, dance, write, draw, & play. I began finding more and more of myself when I focused my creativity into my art form. Dancing has been the place I land when I have nowhere else to go. It has been the place I dive deeper into my body and my mind to discover what I am trying to say. It is what feels like home. I knew I wanted to pursue my artistic career when I was 8 years old. It felt like something that would continue to fulfill me and the people around me. I knew there would always be something more to learn and discover in my pursuit. I think that the beauty of a creative career is that you can continue to shape and mold it in your own way, with your own touch of magic.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career began at the young age of 17 when I began choreographing competitive routines for my hometown dance studio, Little Broadway Studio. A new spark was ignited in me when I started creating my own work. It felt like I had unlocked a new voice within. I wasn’t solely a performer. Now, I had a new voice that was heard when I created movement dancers would perform. I continued my journey to Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance and Psychology. I combined my love of performance and choreography during my undergraduate studies. I performed in many main stage shows, as well as choreographed pieces on my fellow classmates. I was continuing to find my love of choreography with many other competitive studios in the southeast.

I followed my heart to New York City after graduation and pursued performance in a city that I had always dreamed of living in. It was such a liberating experience moving to the biggest city in the US all by myself. This is where I really felt the beginning of my self-discovery journey started to bloom. For the first time in my life, I felt that I was fully in control of my decisions and my life. Living in the city alone is one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I wouldn’t trade in the experience for the world. I trained and took class with some of the most incredible humans and artists in the field. However, I knew the city was temporary for me and I auditioned for Sideways Contemporary Dance Company in Atlanta. I got the job and made the move to Atlanta in 2018.

As I was settling into my life in Atlanta, I felt a strong urge to create an experience for young dancers that pushed them towards internal reflection, self-discovery, and intentionality. So many training programs for pre-professionals focus solely on the body and the physicality of dance. I was seeing the gap between the mind and body in the next generation of dancers. I really wanted to help dancers connect their stories and emotions to their movement in a way that they don’t get in their day to day training. I started a summer intensive, The Introspect Experience, in 2019. This experience is a week long intensive where dancers tune into their bodies through technique classes, improvisation, yoga, mindfulness, journaling, and collaboration with other young artists. We have important, vulnerable conversations. We connect and commit to the process. It is the most beautiful and authentic experience I have with students throughout the year and I feel proud to know that I cultivate a safe place for dancers to come and share a piece of themselves.

I have overcome many challenges and I am also still working through many challenges that come along with being a creative. The comparison trap is something that haunts many of us and makes it really scary to pursue an artistic life. However, I am constantly working on my self-love and self-compassion. I always encourage my students to believe in themselves, so I have to remind myself that I am worthy of the same encouragement. I have learned that taking risks and showing up as my most authentic self is the road to what I consider “success”.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
During my four years in Atlanta, I have found so many spots that feel like a little piece of home. My perfect Atlanta itinerary would definitely include:

Antico- The West Midtown location is the perfect spot to bring your own bottle of wine and play cards with your besties while you eat the absolute best pizza in town.

Fellows (Roswell)- A cozy, comfy tree house vibe with the yummiest brunch and lattes.

Chattahoochee River- Let’s blow up the kayak and paddle board and hit the river! Anywhere I can be on the water with the sunshine on my skin is a great day in Atlanta.

Beltline- Starting off at Krog Street Market and making our way down the Beltline to Ponce. It’s a must do while in Atlanta for the week.

Painted Duck- Such a fun spot for drinks, bowling, dancing, live music, and games. Definitely one of my favorite places in the city.

Barcelona Wine Bar- Tapas and wine. What more could you want?

Amore e amore- A little slice of NYC right in Inman Park. The best dining experience in ATL

Piedmont Park- Let’s pack a picnic and hang out at the park!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have an incredible support system that deeply believe in me, even when I struggle to believe in myself. My family and friends are my biggest and loudest cheerleaders, rooting for my joy and happiness in all that I pursue. From my earliest dance years, my first dance teacher, Mrs. Rhonda Medford, showed me the love and inspiration I now try to instill in my students. Many of my college professors, Kelly Ozust, Emily Morgan, Meg Schriffin, Bethany Tuffy, & Lauren Skrabalak, pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me see my potential in a new way. During my time in Atlanta, Charlotte Williamson has been an outstanding mentor to me. I have worked with her professionally as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. She leads with an open heart and open mind. I always feel heard, valued, and empowered when I am working with her, which is all I can ask for as an artist in this field.

It cannot go without saying that all of the young minds, artists, and students that I have worked with and continue to work with during my career are the group that inspire me the most. They help me see things from a new perspective. The drive, determination, passion, and vulnerability they bring to the table keep me engaged and actively learning. I would not be the leader and teacher I am today without the extraordinary students that have been such a large part of my story.

Website: www.theintrospectexperience.com

Instagram: @meganlongg28 @theintrospectexperience

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megan.long.54922

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrJ3WwCgk84CjSxx6grkLg

Image Credits
Image Credits: Carly Cole, Cole Photo Collective

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