 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| EXPRESSIONS |
| "The place where every child becomes a star by developing new skills, confidence & character through an arts education" |
| 2310 Laurel Street, #4 ~ 254-1962 ~ www.expressionsnapa.com |
How DANCE changed my life…
My name is Megan Meyers, my husband Guy and I own
Expressions. I’d like to introduce myself because to
understand what Expressions is about, it’s important to hear
the story behind my inspiration for creating a performing
arts school.
I moved to Napa in August of 1997, two days before starting my freshman year at Napa High
School. Not knowing a soul, I made friends with anyone who would talk to me but there was one
group of girls that really caught my attention…The Napa High Spiritleaders. I would see them
cheering at school rallies and football games. I remember admiring how confident they were,
watching the way they were able to perform in front of so many people was amazing to me.
So, without much prior experience I took a risk and tried out for the Spiritleader dance team the
following April. Amazingly enough, I MADE IT! I truly believe my life changed paths at that
moment. Over the next three years, I too developed into one of the confident girls I had admired
so much my freshman year. As a Napa High Spiritleader, I had the honor of being named
NDA “All American Dancer” in 2000 and along with my team mates, won four national
titles in 2000 and 2001. My new found confidence also pushed me to earn above a 4.0
grade point average and run (and win) for the position of Senior Class Vice President.
Fast forward to 2002. I had been volunteering as a dance teacher at an after-school program
for the past year, and I got the idea to open a dance studio, I mean I already had students, how
hard could starting a business be? Even though I was only 19, my past experience and success
with dance (plus the support of family) gave me the confidence to persevere past all of the
obstacles and open a dance studio.
You would think that starting a business at 19 would be enough to keep me occupied, but it
wasn’t. While in my first couple years of starting Expressions, I had the opportunity to earn the
title of Miss Napa County 2002 as well as compete at the state level of Miss America. I
also commuted to the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and earned my degree
in business after 3 years in 2004. Then in 2005, I had the honor of joining Football’s Fabulous
Females, the Oakland Raiderettes where I was able to perform for crowds in the tens of
thousands. It was an amazing experience and I was honored to win “Rookie of the Year” my
first year and captain and “Raiderette of the Year” my second year. As “Raiderette of
the Year” I also had the opportunity to represent the Oakland Raiders at the Pro Bowl
in Hawaii.
All of these AMAZING experiences came into my life within only an 8-year span of my first
dance class. I can say for certain that DANCE CHANGED MY LIFE and continues to provide
me with amazing opportunities each year. My particular story happens to be about dancing, but
the same could be true about music or theater. The thing that is so transforming for young
person about any kind of performing art is that is requires self-mastery of body and mind.
Unlike sports, it's not about catching a ball or blocking an opponent, or dealing with any kind of
outside force. It's all internal. It requires understanding a concept in your mind then transferring it
to your hands on a piano keyboard to you your body when performing on stage. There is also
an incredible amount of self-discipline that must be developed in order to practice enough to
create the muscle memory necessary to play an instrument, act out a play or dance a routine.
Even if a student will not want to go on to play or dance after college, they will be able to apply
their new found self-mastery and self-discipline to all other areas of their life. I know first -hand
the confidence that can be gained and the doors that can be opened to any child willing to work
hard and stick with dance, music, or acting. And I’m so blessed to be able to offer that
opportunity to hundreds of children every year through classes at Expressions.
Megan
My name is Megan Meyers, my husband Guy and I own
Expressions. I’d like to introduce myself because to
understand what Expressions is about, it’s important to hear
the story behind my inspiration for creating a performing
arts school.
I moved to Napa in August of 1997, two days before starting my freshman year at Napa High
School. Not knowing a soul, I made friends with anyone who would talk to me but there was one
group of girls that really caught my attention…The Napa High Spiritleaders. I would see them
cheering at school rallies and football games. I remember admiring how confident they were,
watching the way they were able to perform in front of so many people was amazing to me.
So, without much prior experience I took a risk and tried out for the Spiritleader dance team the
following April. Amazingly enough, I MADE IT! I truly believe my life changed paths at that
moment. Over the next three years, I too developed into one of the confident girls I had admired
so much my freshman year. As a Napa High Spiritleader, I had the honor of being named
NDA “All American Dancer” in 2000 and along with my team mates, won four national
titles in 2000 and 2001. My new found confidence also pushed me to earn above a 4.0
grade point average and run (and win) for the position of Senior Class Vice President.
Fast forward to 2002. I had been volunteering as a dance teacher at an after-school program
for the past year, and I got the idea to open a dance studio, I mean I already had students, how
hard could starting a business be? Even though I was only 19, my past experience and success
with dance (plus the support of family) gave me the confidence to persevere past all of the
obstacles and open a dance studio.
You would think that starting a business at 19 would be enough to keep me occupied, but it
wasn’t. While in my first couple years of starting Expressions, I had the opportunity to earn the
title of Miss Napa County 2002 as well as compete at the state level of Miss America. I
also commuted to the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and earned my degree
in business after 3 years in 2004. Then in 2005, I had the honor of joining Football’s Fabulous
Females, the Oakland Raiderettes where I was able to perform for crowds in the tens of
thousands. It was an amazing experience and I was honored to win “Rookie of the Year” my
first year and captain and “Raiderette of the Year” my second year. As “Raiderette of
the Year” I also had the opportunity to represent the Oakland Raiders at the Pro Bowl
in Hawaii.
All of these AMAZING experiences came into my life within only an 8-year span of my first
dance class. I can say for certain that DANCE CHANGED MY LIFE and continues to provide
me with amazing opportunities each year. My particular story happens to be about dancing, but
the same could be true about music or theater. The thing that is so transforming for young
person about any kind of performing art is that is requires self-mastery of body and mind.
Unlike sports, it's not about catching a ball or blocking an opponent, or dealing with any kind of
outside force. It's all internal. It requires understanding a concept in your mind then transferring it
to your hands on a piano keyboard to you your body when performing on stage. There is also
an incredible amount of self-discipline that must be developed in order to practice enough to
create the muscle memory necessary to play an instrument, act out a play or dance a routine.
Even if a student will not want to go on to play or dance after college, they will be able to apply
their new found self-mastery and self-discipline to all other areas of their life. I know first -hand
the confidence that can be gained and the doors that can be opened to any child willing to work
hard and stick with dance, music, or acting. And I’m so blessed to be able to offer that
opportunity to hundreds of children every year through classes at Expressions.
Megan
