ABOUT S.A.M.
We are Sarah & Megan (S.A.M.), two sisters who are enthusiastic about the arts. We grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, started dancing at the young age of three at Menlo Park Academy of Dance, & continued our studies for 25+ years. We began our training under Director Sarah-Jane Measor in the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) technique. While studying at MPAOD, we also had the privilege of studying with Leyla Boissonnade, Nona Ybarra, & Anthony LoCascio. We predominantly practice ballet and tap; however, we thoroughly love and enjoy all dance forms. We both danced throughout high school but took different paths during college. Megan continued to study Dance while Sarah pursued Art History. During our time at San Jose State University (SJSU) together, we had a thirst to collaborate, using our two fields to create new, dynamic choreographies, exhibitions, and unique spaces to coexist, thus founding Language of Life - Art & Dance.
OUR TEAM
Sarah Lysgaard
Co-Founder, Executive Director
Sarah has a contagious passion for the Arts from its inception to creation & exposition, fondness of Arts' inception across disciplines, & beaming enthusiasm. At the young age of three, she became fascinated with the art of dance & enrolled in classes with RoseAnn Sayler at Menlo Park Academy of Dance. Sarah continued her studies there for 15 years, was on the Tap competition team, & performed in numerous recitals and concerts. Sarah continued to dance through college, but it wasn't until she transferred to San Jose State University, taking ballet with Gary Masters & tap with Jill Yager, that she became seriously enthralled with the art form again. It was during college that her desire for art & dance collaboration began.
While academically engaging in dance at SJSU was a delight, Sarah received both her BA and MA in Art History & Visual Culture. Her thesis consists of both written work, Ballet de la Nuit: Staging the Absolute Monarchy of Louis XIV, & a production, “The Sun King Dances," which she directed and performed in. To further her dance education, Sarah consulted Catherine Turocy, Director of the New York Baroque Dance Company, one of today's leading choreographers/reconstructors & stage directors in 17th and 18th century period performance for her thesis research. Sarah’s thesis was presented at the 38th Annual SJSU Research Competition & the 31st Annual Calfornia State University Student Research Competition at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Sarah's love for Art History flourished in college, leading her to her dream of being a curator. Most notably, she served as the Assistant Curator for Jo Farb Hernandez for the exhibition "Creativity Creativity, Change, Commitment: A Celebration of 100 Years of the Department of Art," "The Intimate Diebenkorn: Works on Paper, 1949–1992," & "Goya's War: Los Desastres de la Guerra" which featured 82 etchings by artist Francisco Goya. Sarah thoroughly enjoys helping others confidentially interpret artworks & discussing the narrative presented. She is ecstatic to have Co-Founded Language of Life - Art & Dance, proving art & dance belong together — raising awareness on & pivoting around contemporary issues.
Megan Lysgaard
Co-Founder, Artistic Director
Megan started studying dance at Menlo Park Academy of Dance under the direction of Sarah Jane Measor, Leyla Boissonnade, Nona Ybarra, Antony LoCascio, & Michael Lowe. There she was trained in RAD, Tap, & choreography. During her time at MPAOD, Megan had many different performing opportunities, ranging from competition to traditional ballets such as Twas the Night Before Christmas to charitable & seasonal concerts. She was a member of both the tap & ballet competition teams at MPAOD, who won multiple titles at competitions such as Encore, International Dance Competition (IDC), & Showstoppers. MPAOD's Ballet competition team won the Overall Grand Prize at IDC's 2004 National Finals, held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team's presentation of "Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1" took first place in the Production Category, won the award for the Best Technical Execution, & was included in the International Dance Challenge televised program.
To further her education, Megan obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the School of Music & Dance at SJSU. She studied with educators & artists such as Gary Masters, Fred Mathews, Jill Yager, Heather Cooper, Mark Foehringer, Kara Davis, and John Beasant III as well many others. While participating in the advanced performing company, University Dance Theater (UDT), under the Direction of Gary masters, Megan participated in the American College Dance Association (ACDA) at Cal State Long Beach.
Since completing her studies, Megan has choreographed pieces in collaboration with many artists, such as Jay Ruland and Sarah Lysgaard. In addition to collaborations, she has expanded her repertoire by attending historical dance workshops and Progressing Ballet Techniques. Currently, she is the Ballet Director at HeartBeat Dance Academy under Director Teri Nash. Megan's goal is to continue to create & collaborate with all types of artists to help build a better world. She believes that the more exposure to art people have, the more opportunities they will have to become more understanding individuals. Dance & Art have the capabilities to change people's minds and connect us all.