You Cannot Be Serious

In 2006, I was asked to perform a dance at a friend’s wedding. I had an idea inspired by a famous 1980 doubles match between tennis icons John McEnroe and Björn Borg. But at the last minute, my partner couldn’t do the project. I still considered performing, but whoever heard of a tennis match with only one player? I bowed out of the gig, and it felt like I’d failed. But the idea lingered, and a year later I had a new solo. Unfit (you cannot be serious) was based on McEnroe’s “Superbrat” phase, where while being a brilliant athlete he berated umpires and threw racquets. I researched his outbursts and personal failures and developed movement material that evoked his character while offering physical commentary.

Unfit led to more dances that investigated the curious intersection of failure and athleticism, which led to further intrigue with toxic masculinity and male rage through a feminist lens, systemic and choreographic themes I’m still working with today. The idea that began as a failure helped hone my artistic voice.

As an artist I work with choreography, experimental video and photography. I obsess over mimicry, wry humor, loneliness, fake bad timing, and exacting musicality.

Megan’s work can be viewed at https://meganmayer.com/.