For Megan Rancour, dance isn’t simply something she discovered—it has been part of her world for as long as she can remember.

From beginning dance classes at just three years old to developing into a professional artist with Saint Louis Dance Theatre, Rancour’s journey has been shaped by curiosity, versatility and a commitment to continually evolving her craft.

A Western Michigan University dance alum and fully certified STOTT Pilates instructor, Rancour has built a career that extends beyond performing. Her interests in rehearsal direction, staging and movement give a glimpse into where the next chapter of her career may lead.

DELUX caught up with Rancour to discuss her introduction to dance, her artistic development at Saint Louis Dance Theatre, the role Pilates has played in extending her career and what she hopes to explore next.

Dance Has Always Been Part of Her Life

DELUX: What first drew you to dance, and when did you realize it was something you wanted to pursue professionally?

Megan Rancour: Dance has always been part of my life! My mom grew up in dance and theatre, so she put me in classes at age three. I remember already being very focused and serious about it then, but it wasn’t until late middle school that I was introduced to concert dance through a youth training program.

As a self-proclaimed “YouTube kid,” I used the platform as a tool to search for more companies and dancers. My consumption only deepened my love for the art form, and it was natural that dance became something I knew I would never get enough of.

Finding Versatility at Saint Louis Dance Theatre

DELUX: How has your experience with Saint Louis Dance Theatre helped shape you as both an artist and performer?

Rancour: Being in a repertory company means we have to be versatile, and Kirven has made sure we are always being pushed in different ways. Each creative he has brought in has left a lasting impact on me, and I take something different from each process that helps mold my current state as an artist.

That versatility has become an important part of Rancour’s development. Working within a repertory company requires dancers to move between different choreographic languages, artistic visions and physical demands while maintaining their own identity as performers.

Making Audiences Hear the Music Differently

DELUX: Every dancer brings something different to the stage. What do you feel is uniquely “Megan” about the way you move and perform?

Rancour: One element that I really prioritize is being very musical and making sure that my movement always stays in relationship to the score that the choreographer or composer has made.

My goal is that the audience would be able to experience the music differently, or notice new things, than if they were just listening to it.

For Rancour, movement and music aren’t competing elements. They work together, creating an opportunity for audiences to experience a score through both sound and the physical interpretation unfolding onstage.

Lessons From Western Michigan University

DELUX: As a Western Michigan University dance alum, what lessons from your college training still influence your career today?

Rancour: My time at Western Michigan (WMU) taught me that being well-rounded will help you achieve so much in this field. The program has equal emphasis in ballet, modern and jazz, which has really served me in my time at Saint Louis Dance Theatre.

Additionally, the professors I studied under really instilled in me that I am capable, that hard work does not go unnoticed, and volunteering is powerful!

That foundation has proven especially valuable in a professional environment where adaptability can be just as important as technical ability.

How Pilates Helped Extend Her Dancing Career

Alongside her work as a dancer, Rancour is a fully certified STOTT Pilates instructor—a discipline she credits with transforming the way she approaches her body and career.

DELUX: How has Pilates impacted your strength, technique, recovery and longevity as a professional dancer?

Rancour: Pilates has been incredibly impactful on my professional life! My body has always been naturally flexible, so the strength training component of Pilates completely changed my ability to have control and power in my movement.

I have also had some serious injuries that, without Pilates, could have been career ending. The method has helped keep me pain free, in shape and extended my dancing days!

The practice has become more than supplemental training for Rancour. It has given her another way to understand movement, develop strength and support the physical demands of a professional dance career.

Watching St. Louis’ Dance Community Grow

Rancour’s enthusiasm isn’t limited to her own performances. She is equally excited about what she sees happening throughout St. Louis’ larger dance and arts community.

DELUX: What excites you most about being part of the arts community in St. Louis right now?

Rancour: I am so inspired with how every aspect of dance is being expanded in our city! The number of festivals, annual collaborative projects, written reviews, company performances, open rehearsals, etc. increases each year.

As someone who also loves to watch and read about dance, there is an ever-growing number of ways to do so right here in STL.

For artists and audiences alike, that expanding ecosystem creates more opportunities to experience dance beyond a traditional performance—whether through festivals, collaborations, rehearsals or conversations surrounding the work.

What’s Next for Megan Rancour?

While performing remains an important part of Rancour’s life, some of her biggest ambitions now live behind the scenes.

DELUX: Looking ahead, what are you hoping to explore next—whether through dance, Pilates, teaching, choreography or another creative direction?

Rancour: While I have always loved performing, and still do, I have such a passion for working in the studio! Rehearsals excite me, whether it’s a new creative process or a restaging of an existing work.

I love getting into all the details of something, putting the puzzle together and watching it flourish.

My dream next step is to either work as a repetiteur, staging a choreographer’s work on other companies or programs on their behalf, or a rehearsal director.

It’s a natural evolution for an artist whose career has been built around details: listening closely to music, adapting to different choreographers, understanding the mechanics of the body and appreciating the work that happens long before an audience sees the finished performance.

For Rancour, the stage remains home—but the rehearsal studio may ultimately become the place where she makes her greatest impact. To learn more about St. Louis Dance Theatre, visit https://www.saintlouisdancetheatre.org

Photo Credit: Pratt&Kreidich/Taylor Marie

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