Meet Maeve! This lovely girl/woman has been an inspiration of mine ever since I met her our first year in college! I have no doubt her interview will inspire you as well.

What is a typical day in the life of Maeve?

My days vary depending on castings or bookings, but a “typical” day for me begins with teaching Barre/Pilates at 7 am, followed by rehearsing with my dance company until 3:30pm, then either heading to a casting/audition, a shoot, to teach again, or to my job at an arts education non-profit. I’m usually running around until 8pm or so every night!

Were you always dedicated to movement and fitness?

I have been dancing since I was three years old, so I have always been extremely active. I started to become very interested in movement therapy around age fourteen. Because I overworked my body and was not giving myself the proper care, I tore my acetabulum in my left hip and had severe bone spurs. It took six months for doctors to figure out my exact injury, and I was off of dance for almost eight months. In that time, I got connected to a Pilates based physical therapist in Pittsburgh who completely retrained my body and saved my dance career. The recovery was not easy, but this experience forced me to realize how important it is to take care of my body and led me to the decision to study dance and pre-physical therapy in college. I plan to go grad school one day for physical therapy, but for now I am focusing on teaching proper techniques to my clients in group fitness settings while performing professionally!

What do you gain as a person from dancing and separately from modeling?

Dance and movement allows me to be completely in touch with myself both physically and mentally. Some days dancing clears my mind and some days dancing brings to the surface suppressed feelings I did not even realize I had... Whatever it may be, the perfect fix is being alone in an empty studio and releasing those thoughts into movement.

The most exciting part of modeling for me is being able to play different characters and personas! I primarily book lifestyle and commercial modeling/acting gigs that require an in person audition, so I usually am asked to recite lines, answer questions, act out a scene, pose, etc. It is extremely rewarding to book gigs where I know I succeeded in an audition/casting, rather than just being booked based on how I look.

Did you always know you wanted to be a professional dancer and model?

Professional dancer – yes! When I was two, my parents took me to see The Nutcracker. After the performance, I was sitting on top of my dad’s shoulders and yelled out “I a ballerina!” After that moment, my passion for dance never stopped. As for modeling, I never thought that it would be something I could or would pursue professionally! I did a lot of photo shoots growing up and through college primarily for dance, but it wasn’t until I came to NYC in June that I got signed with two agencies for modeling/acting. It has been super exciting, and everyday I am shocked and extremely thankful for the opportunities that are presented to me.

What are a few of your favorite things?

My favorite things- Dogs, coffee, staying active (I cannot sit still!!), country music, teaching group fitness classes, and spending time with my sisters

Favorite foods- Mangos, sautéed vegetables, peanut butter, sweet potatoes, anything covered in cheese...

Favorite beauty products- I just recently started to get into makeup...I am incredibly lazy when it comes to getting ready! My favorite products right now are Bye-Bye Under Eye concealer by I.T. and Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Oil.

Favorite anything else- I LOVE the cello. I played growing up and took classes in college. My number one regret in life is not pursuing the cello as intensely as I did with dance.

What do you do in your free time away from dance and modeling?

It has been difficult since I moved to NYC trying to find free time! I typically work seven days a week between performing, teaching, and shooting, but I try to see as many dance/art performances as I can and also stay connected with old friends. I also like to try out all the popular NYC cheap eats!

What do you love about living in NYC?

That is tough because there are so many reasons...but definitely the eclectic group of people who live here. Growing up in a small town and then attending Michigan where everyone knew everyone else’s business, it always felt as though there was a standard to live by and people were monitoring or judging your every move. It is really refreshing to see all the people in NYC who live for themselves and do not care what anyone else thinks, and it has definitely inspired me to rediscover what I stand for, what my purpose is, and who I am as an individual.

What inspires you most?

The other dancers in my dance company! I can always expect lots of love, passion, energy, and laughter at work everyday...it keeps me sane in this crazy competitive industry! They’re also extremely talented and push me to continue to achieve new levels as a dancer/performer.

What advice do you have for women about working hard and pursing greatness/their dreams?

Take a risk, push past your comfort level, embarrass yourself, fail, and then get back up and do it again. I was extremely shy growing up and even during the beginning of college. It was easy for me to dance, but other than that I was terrified to be in front of people. My professors pushed me every single day out of my comfort level, forcing me to let go of any hesitations, and I cannot thank them enough for all of the times I wanted to die of humiliation in front of a classroom. I now have no trouble speaking in front of large audiences, acting, and completely making a fool of myself. I have booked some of my best modeling/acting gigs not for how I may look, but for my ability to transform myself without hesitation in front of the camera. So no matter what your dream may be, never stop pushing yourself and at least try! Even if it doesn’t work out, you will always learn something about yourself in the experience.

How do you stay grounded?

As a professional dancer, you work your ass off everyday for very little pay. To the public, all that is seen is the outcome – a beautifully executed performance. Audiences don’t see or understand the difficult and long hours spent in the process. There are days where I am training and rehearsing for up to ten hours, and it can be extremely mentally and physically exhausting. I have definitely felt defeated and considered giving up this career, but ultimately I am someone who thrives on a challenge. The feeling of being torn to my breaking point only forces me to work harder, and that is something I would never want to give up in my career. As for modeling, I would be lying if I said I don’t enjoy shoots where I am pampered all day while posing in front of the camera, but in the end the most rewarding days for me are when I leave the dance studio covered in sweat and a lot of bruises... So regardless of what I am doing, I’m always striving to be a better performer, a stronger dancer, a more adaptable model, so I never lose sight of the fact that I will always have something I can improve.

Maeve McEwen - Professional Dancer, Model, Actress & Fitness Trainer