Style. Musicality. Obvious talent. Meghan Sanett has Got. It. All. The professional dancer and educator, who was born in Los Angeles but now divides her time equally on both the west and the east coast of the US, has performed for icons like Julie Andrews, Chita Rivera, Dick Van Dyke…just to name drop a few. She has assisted choreographers on So You Think You Can Dance and appears as a dancer in the film In The Heights, and she was also the Assistant Choreographer for Paula Abdul’s Billboard Music Awards Performance. I mean, just look at her moves here. And here.
And now, she is bringing her talent, her smarts and her dynamic theatre jazz choreography to the Melbourne Showgrounds this May for the 2025 Victorian Dance Festival (VDF) – Australia’s largest dance festival. Let’s find out what she has in store for VDF25 dancers, and what she’s looking forward to during her first visit to Australia!
People are so excited to have you at VDF this year! Please give us a glimpse into your theatre jazz classes you’ll be teaching.
“I am so honored and excited to be traveling to VDF in Australia for the first time this year! My classes combine challenging jazz technique and intricate musicality with theatre style influences while usually wearing a jazz shoe or a character heel or boot. During my classes, I always want the room to be full of hard work, focus and support. My choreography is not only technical but is extremely detailed within the styling of the movement. I tailor my classes for each age range to make sure that not only is the room working to be their best, but at the end of class everyone remembers why they love dance. Having fun and enjoying yourself is a huge part of what I strive to share!
I also want to teach dancers choreography that they not only work on in my class but that they can then take home to their studios to keep practising on their own. I always say that the work is never done! There is always more to learn no matter what age or skill level, and I love being able to spark those learning experiences within my classes.”
Why do you love teaching at a big event like VDF, with a huge range of dancers and lots of energy – and probably all new students for you?
“I am a very energetic educator and thrive off the spirit and passion shared in classrooms, big or small. I am such a fan of our dance community, and how even if we don’t know each other or are from completely different parts of the world, our unified language is dance. When dance is at the centre of what we’re focused on, the supportive energy and excitement of watching and appreciating talent in fully packed spaces like VDF is such a magical experience. I am truly counting down the days until we all get to be in those rooms together!”
This will be your first time in Australia, too! What’s on your sightseeing checklist, and what are you hoping to do on some down time?
“Yes! My fiancé and I will be buzzing around the city on my downtime! We have recently become bicoastal in America, and have homes in both Los Angeles and New York City, which means we both love to walk around and discover as we go. We are always interested in things to do that are less touristy and more of a ‘locals’ experience, so we can’t wait to discover coffee shops, fabulous restaurants, potentially see some live music and just enjoy the beauty that is Melbourne! Although, if anyone has any recommendations of things we must see, send them over.”
Why do you love teaching theatre jazz? Is it your personal favourite style to dance as well, and why?
“I grew up in Los Angeles, and when I started my professional dance career, I thought I was going to be a more of a commercial jazz, jazz funk and hip hop dancer. After a few years of not feeling fulfilled by those styles, I moved to New York City, and realised that theatre jazz was the style I felt the most passionate about and the one I wanted to put my own spin on. Being an educator on the dance convention circuit in the United States, true jazz has been fading out over the last few years due to the style not being as ‘trendy.’ I love teaching jazz because every weekend I get to see dancers from all over the country feel their love for jazz ignite for the first time or return once again. It is my mission to keep jazz alive for many years to come! Long live jazz dancing!”
What do you hope dancers and students take away from your classes at VDF?
“I hope the dancers and students at VDF leave my classes feeling challenged, supported and very sweaty. I also hope they leave my class with a reminder of why they love to dance. Growing up dancing and still today, my favourite classes weren’t always the ones where I nailed the combination perfectly every time. My favourites were the classes that I felt moved and inspired by when I exited the studio. Leaving those classes only made me want to come right back and train more because of the equal parts joy and accomplishment I felt after those opportunities. There is always a time and place for strict training and every single class you take isn’t going to feel like 100 percent positivity and sunshine. However, having that balance of both is so important for longevity in this industry.”
Anything else you’d like to add about your classes, or any top tips for dancers heading to a big event like VDF?
“Besides for me being over the moon excited! For events like these, where you’re taking so many different classes and so many different styles, I would recommend bringing small outfit changes to dress the part for each class. For example, in my classes, I always like to say, prioritise comfort and confidence while making sure your outfit is form fitting enough to showcase the lines and shapes within the choreography. I always suggest bringing multiple layers of clothing during an event like this so you can shift vibes and fits with every class. Your outfit for contemporary class should be different than what you’re wearing for jazz class. Also, regarding shoes, I prefer students to wear either jazz shoes or character heels/boots. (For reference, LaDuca heeled boots are what I wear during most of my classes.) And don’t forget water! Cannot wait to dance with everyone. See you soon!”
You can follow Meghan Sanett on Instagram and other social media outlets: @mmsanett.
The exciting three-day VDF25 is coming up this 23 – 25 May. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity! For more information, visit www.victoriandancefestival.com.
By Laura Di Orio of Dance Informa.
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