Meet Megan Grabau | Dancer, Choreographer, and Fitness Instructor

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

Hi Megan, what do you attribute your success to?
I really believe that the most important factor behind the success of MEG Productions is the intention behind the company rather than what the company does. MEG Productions is all about evoking confidence, empowering others through movement, and truly being imperfectly you, as an artist and as a person. My slogan is “perfection is boring” and I really believe that when we embrace all that we are, we can be authentically ourselves and explore our creativity even deeper. The success I have is from focusing on others and helping others grow, rather than trying to grow my own brand. I also strongly believe my success is due to surrounding myself with people that are uplifting, positive, and truly want to spread love and light.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a choreographer, dancer, and creative director. In the dance industry, I try to focus on the overall picture, overall visual, and what others are experiencing watching, rather than the dance steps themselves. Yes, my art is movement, but when I am creating a dance piece my intention is to make it visually beautiful to any person that watches it, whether that be from another creative to an accountant. My goal is to create pieces that make an audience member feel something and get inspired to create themselves.

About a year ago, I officially started my own production company, MEG Productions, and I am very proud of what the company has done in such a short amount of time. Not only have I put on multiple dance conventions flying in choreographers from out of state, created my own merchandise line, choreographed lots of dances for teams all over the state, but I have worked hard to make everyone in each one of those ventures feel seen, important, and valuable. I am proud of the why and how more than I am proud of the what.

I started dancing when I was 2 and starting dancing professionally when I moved to LA straight out of high school when I was 18. I went on tour in Europe for two years as a dancer and aerialist then moved back to LA and went back to commercial dance work there. Very shortly after, covid hit and the industry really went completely silent, as did the world. For that entire first year, I lived half in LA and half in Colorado. I did some huge jobs in LA that year including a movie and other jobs such as being on Beachbody with ShaunT, a music video for the pop-star “P!NK” and a model for F45’s national campaign. However, at the end of the year, I decided to move back to Colorado and travel to LA for jobs.

At this point, I had been dancing rather than directing and choreographing. The pandemic pushed me to start creating opportunities for myself and work hard to figure out an industry that had taken a massive hit by Covid. This was a huge pivotal moment for my career of truly stepping into my artistic expression, not waiting for others, trusting my hard work and creative voice, and this is what began my own production company. It was the challenges and changes that I did not want to happen that have placed me where I am today and looking back, I could not be more grateful and thankful for every turn in my path.

I have learned that with adversity comes resilience and with struggle comes strength. It is not what is happening to you but how you respond. One of the biggest lessons I have learned by stepping into a choreographer/creative director role is your art is never about you. It is about how others feel experiencing it and how your art can inspire others.

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.
Some of my favorite places to eat are: True Foods, Whole Sol, and Flower Child

I love hiking, yoga, weight lifting, Lagree fitness, being outdoors, and going to church. My favorite place to workout at is “Lagroove” a Lagree studio in Boulder which I also instruct at. One of my favorite hikes to do is the Skyline Traverse, which is a hike that goes across all the major peaks in Boulder with a total of 18 miles.

I also love to hang out with other artists at the new dance studio Collabratory Complex! It is more than a dance studio, it’s an artist’s dream social hang location.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to Shoutout my parents for always supporting me and encouraging me to be bold, loving, and intentional. They truly are my best friends and cannot imagine my journey without their support. I would also love to Shoutout Jasmine Lairsmith and my Collabratory Complex family for making the Colorado dance and artistic community grow with love and purpose.

Instagram: @megangrabau

Image Credits
JP Douvalakis Jasmine Lairsmith Matt Mroczek Michael Greco