Megan Lowe shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Megan, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have you stood up for someone when it cost you something?
Well, I think the biggest example of this is something I’ve shared with the CanvasRebel community before—my experience of surviving a life-threatening home invasion and assault while saving the lives of two strangers. For those interested, I wrote about that experience here: https://dancersgroup.org/2019/12/speak-discovering-the-power-and-ability-to-take-action
But for this interview, I’ll share something a bit more lighthearted—an early example of standing up for someone even when it cost me something. I think it speaks to the values I still hold today.
I’ve always been a mix of smart and hardworking, but also someone who questions authority—a bit of a rebel rouser. Throughout K–12, that often meant I excelled academically, but also got in trouble for speaking out of turn. In middle school, during a history project, the teacher called up the five students with the highest grades (I was one of them) and told us we’d be the project leaders. Then he asked us to take turns choosing classmates to join our teams—essentially ranking everyone in front of the whole class. I immediately felt uncomfortable. When it got to my turn, I said I didn’t want to participate because it felt like a popularity contest, and I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings—especially those who might be picked last. The teacher told me I had to choose someone or I’d be removed as a project leader and given detention. I said, “If that’s the case, then I choose detention.”
During that detention, the teacher said he understood why I did what I did, but that it wasn’t appropriate to challenge him in front of the class. Then—surprisingly—we spent the entire detention redesigning the project for his next classes in a way that was more equitable and less hierarchical.
That moment continues to remind me that standing up for what you believe in can spark change, even in small ways. It’s a value that continues to guide my work as an artist, collaborator, and leader today.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a dance maker, performer, teacher, aerialist, and singer-songwriter of Chinese and Irish descent, creating work in the San Francisco Bay Area, situated on unceded Ramaytush Ohlone land. I lead a multidisciplinary dance company called Megan Lowe Dances (MLD), which is known for bold physicality, inventive storytelling, and deep relational care.
MLD transforms both unconventional and everyday spaces through dynamic place-making, playful partner work, and aerial/vertical dance. We collaborate with artists of diverse racial, cultural, and movement backgrounds to make performances that are inclusive, emotionally resonant, and physically daring. We center stories from AAPI, BIPOC, and mixed-race communities, and offer workshops that empower movers to take risks, embrace their strengths, and support one another. Through collaboration and collective learning, we build community and reimagine what dance can be—and where it can happen.
My choreography comes to life in surprising spaces—stairs, rooftops, cliff sides, playgrounds, and museums—using site-specific and vertical dance to challenge the body and expand what’s possible. I’m a recipient of two Izzie Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Performance, and my recent choreographies have been seen at Legion of Honor Museum, ODC, Fort Mason, de Young Museum, and 500 Capp Street, as well in United States of Asian America Festival, San Francisco Aerial Arts Festival, SF Trolley Dances, Center for Asian American Media Festival, and on KQED Live.
For me, dance is more than movement—it’s a way of life, a tool for transformation, and a practice of care, curiosity, and connection.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I have a funny story about this. I wouldn’t say I’m a rule breaker, but I’ve always been a bit of a rule bender—someone who can read between the lines and imagine the possibilities.
When I was little, my mom took me and my sister to Sea World. There was this big open-air lagoon with sharks swimming around, surrounded by a wooden fence. I was small, and I couldn’t see over the fence, but I knew I wasn’t supposed to go past it. Still, I noticed a break in the fence where a giant boulder jutted out. My mom was walking ahead with my sister when she started hearing murmurs behind her—people pointing, looking shocked, saying, “Whose kid is that?”
She turned around and saw me perched on top of the boulder, leaning over the lagoon to get a better look at the sharks. I wasn’t trying to be reckless—I just saw an opening and took it. I figured if the boulder was part of the landscape, maybe it was meant to be climbed. I thought beyond the limit of the fence, and used the strength of my body—and the stretch of my imagination—to find the perspective I was looking for.
That moment captures something that still defines me today: I’m someone who sees boundaries and instinctively asks, Can I transform this boundary into a bridge? Is there a way to work with the limitation instead of against it? I use movement as a means to access what feels just out of reach—not just for myself, but for others too. That sense of physical agency, curiosity, and possibility lives at the heart of my artistic practice.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
I used to wait and wish for others to make space for me—thinking that if I worked hard enough, someone would eventually recognize my worth and invite me in. But over time, I realized that by waiting, I was giving away my power—and missing opportunities to build something more just, more compassionate, and more welcoming to those who don’t fit the status quo. Now, I believe in actively creating space—for myself and for those around me—a space rooted in care, respect, and shared humanity. One where people can show up fully, shine brightly without shrinking, and still be held in their vulnerability, with room for growth and becoming. It’s a shift from seeking permission to building possibility, and it’s completely transformed how I move through the world, both as an artist and as a person.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Creating space where people feel seen, valued, and free to be fully themselves is at the heart of what I do.
Sometimes people are intimidated by how deeply I commit to my craft—how much time I’ve spent honing my skills and striving for excellence. I’ve experienced others project insecurities onto me, crafting narratives and spreading rumors to ease their own discomfort rather than engaging with who I truly am. When I expressed sadness about this, a friend told me: “A confident woman acts as a mirror, and an insecure person only sees their own reflection.” In a field as competitive and under-resourced as dance, it’s easy to fall into comparison and scarcity thinking.
But I don’t want to tear anyone down or compete for scraps. I believe in celebrating people for who they are—their gifts and their growing edges. I care about helping others shine, not just in ways that are traditionally applauded, but in the quiet, personal victories too. I want to make space for us to be excellent and imperfect, to succeed without shrinking, and to uplift others without losing ourselves.
We’re not all good at the same things—and that’s beautiful. When we stop comparing and start sharing, we remember: there’s room for all of us. That’s the kind of world I strive to build—in my art, my relationships, and my community.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
It might sound strange, but I feel most at peace—most like myself—when I’m performing and sharing a dance I’ve thoughtfully crafted: fully present in my body, attuned to space, sound, and the people around me. There’s a deep calm that comes from moving with intention, trusting my instincts and training, and allowing the moment to unfold. Time softens. My breath deepens. My mind quiets. I feel grounded, alive, and connected—to my ancestors, the land beneath me, my collaborators beside me, and the community witnessing with me.
That sense of peace isn’t mine alone—I work to cultivate it with others. Whether moving with a partner, within a group, or in front of an audience, I strive to build spaces where people can show up fully and honestly. I want my creations to be a place where collaborators and viewers alike feel recognized and supported, where vulnerability is held with respect, and where connection happens naturally through the shared experience of movement and being human.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.meganlowedances.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mlowedancekitty/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/megan-lowe/92/926/91
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meganlowedances
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mlowe11dance
Image Credits
1) Megan Lowe – Photo by Jessica Swanson for Megan Lowe & Rose Huey present “JINSHAN: Seams of Gold” – 2025;
2) Megan Lowe & Rose Huey – Photo by Jessica Swanson for Megan Lowe & Rose Huey present “JINSHAN: Seams of Gold” – 2025;
3) Megan Lowe – Photo by Vita Hewitt for Megan Lowe Dances presents “Just a Shadow” – 2025
4) Marica Petrey, Sonsheree Giles, Megan Lowe, Roel Seeber, Frances Teves Sedayao, AJ Gardner, & Shira Yaziv – Photo by: Vita Hewitt for Megan Lowe Dances presents “Just a Shadow” – 2025
5) Megan Lowe, Clarissa Rivera Dyas, Melissa Lewis Wong, & Malia Hatico-Byrne – Photo by Vita Hewitt for Megan Lowe Dances presents “Gathering Pieces of Peace” – 2023;
6) Megan Lowe, Clarissa Rivera Dyas, Melissa Lewis Wong, & Malia Hatico-Byrne – Photo by Vita Hewitt for Megan Lowe Dances presents “Gathering Pieces of Peace” – 2023;
7) Megan Lowe & Brenton Cheng – Photo by Bruce Ghent for Megan Lowe Dances presents “Tangram” – 2021
8) Megan Lowe & Art by Mildred (Mee Heung Fong) Lowe – Photo by Bruce Ghent for Megan Lowe Dances presents “Tangram” – 2021
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
