Pioneer Careers: Megan Chiu '20 is a Junior Artist for Ballet Black in London Alumni Profile
Meet Megan Chiu '20
- Job Title & Employer
- Junior Artist, Ballet Black
- Major/Program
- Dance (ballet)
- Minor
- Business Management
- Hometown
- Chicago, Ill.
- High School
- Chicago High School for the Arts
- Now Living In
- London, U.K.
- Hobbies & Interests
- Creating vlogs, modeling, traveling, eating healthy
"Point Park University has so much to offer. The facilities are amazing and the dance program prepares you for your career."
Tell us about Ballet Black and how you landed your current role?
Based in London, United Kingdom, Ballet Black is a professional company for dancers of Black and Asian descent. Before joining the company in 2023, I danced with Madison Ballet in Wisconsin for two years.
Ballet Black held auditions in New York City, so I sent in my materials and received an invitation to participate. I'm so proud to say that I'm dancing professionally as a junior artist with Ballet Black.
What does your job entail and what have you enjoyed most in this role?
Ballet Black is a touring company, which is different than my previous role at Madison Ballet where we performed four productions each season at the Madison location. Now, as part of a touring company at Ballet Black, we perform the same production for a year in the United Kingdom. I always wanted to tour and I'm really enjoying this experience. The transition of being so far from home has been challenging, yet extremely rewarding. Having the opportunity to dive into a new chapter of my dance career to meet new people from all over the world has been incredible.
@pointparku Follow along to see how Megan Chiu '20 Dance (ballet) alum uses what she learned at #PointParkU in her everyday life as a Junior Artist touring for Ballet Black, based in London! 👏🩰 Full story at pointpark.edu ✨ @Megan Chiu #PointParkUniversity #DowntownPittsburgh #BalletTok #BalletTikTok #BalletBlack #Ballet ♬ original sound - Point Park University
How did your college experience prepare you for your career?
Point Park University went above and beyond in preparing me for the real world. As part of the dance program, students choose a concentration in ballet, jazz or modern. Regardless of your concentration, you are held to a high standard in classes that are not a part of your chosen concentration.
Point Park has so much to offer. The facilities are amazing and the dance program prepares you for your career. I found the mock and real auditions on campus for industry professionals extremely valuable. We also had the opportunity to work with so many choreographers who visited campus. I made connections and friendships that I will have for the rest of my life.
What were some of your favorite spots to hang out in Pittsburgh?
My friends and I enjoyed going to Point State Park, the Strip District, South Side and Oakland.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Enjoy your time at Point Park because it goes by quickly. Try not to limit or keep yourself labeled to one style of dance because you don’t know what other opportunities will come your way.
Check out my YouTube channel for a behind-the-scenes look at tour life and my adventures in London.