Meet Megan Wasniewski | Dancer, artist, educator

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

Hi Megan, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I believe the most important factor behind success is commitment. Staying committed to your mission, your goals, and values. I have had the honor to help run DANCE START, a direct program of The Samuel Lawrence Foundation that brings dance education to underserved youth in San Diego, and my commitment to this program is derived from my passion for dance. I am an artist, dancer, and educator and I believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn and experience creative expression through the arts. DANCE START brings free classical ballet and creative movement classes to Head Start Preschools and Title I elementary schools through out San Diego. We are committed to bringing the joy and discipline of dance to children in our communities. Our program is successful and continues to expand due to the dedication and commitment our team brings to program.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an artist, dancer, and dance educator. I began teaching for DANCE START, a direct program of the Samuel Lawrence Foundation, which then led to becoming the Program Coordinator where I have worked to continue our efforts and expand our program. DANCE START brings free classical ballet and creative movement classes to Head Start Preschools and Title I elementary schools throughout San Diego. We began our program at a few Head Start preschools in North County San Diego, and have since grown to teach in multiple Head Starts through the Neighborhood House Association as well as Boys and Girls Club programs in Elementary Schools throughout San Diego County. We also created our first ever summer program in 2024 where we taught free ballet classes at the Pacific Beach Recreation Center. In 2024, we taught free dance classes to over 400 children. I am most proud of the dedication our small team has shown to continue providing these classes to underserved youth and for working hard to expand our program to bring these classes to more kids in the community. Expanding our program has proved challenging when trying to find the right partnerships and hire committed dance educators, although, I have learned that if I stay consistent and keep pushing forward, I will see progress. After lots of hard work, we are now moving in the right direction and bringing dance to more kids throughout San Diego. Our program is small but it makes a huge impact, and I hope to continue expanding to offer dance education to more children.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Two of my favorite restaurants in San Diego are Costa Brava and Cesarina. After grabbing amazing food at one of these restaurants I would walk down to the beach. Other places I love to show friends visiting are La Jolla cove, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, North Park for local shops and food, and Kate Sessions park for a picnic with some views.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shout out to the incredible mentors I have had throughout my education and career including: Slauka Ladewig, Jess Humphrey, Leslie Seiters, Joe Alter, and Sulamita Panduro. I would also like to thank and dedicate this shoutout to my family – Tommy and Jack – for their constant support, encouragement, and love as I strive to build my career in the arts.

Image Credits
Doug McMinimy