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A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Matthew Seneca is a classically trained actor and singer, a self-taught guitarist and songwriter, a former certified teacher of the Alexander Technique, and a dancer of Argentine tango. For 14 years, he was a high school teacher during which time he taught everything from English to theater arts to dance. Matthew has been a social dancer for over 25 years and has danced Argentine tango for 14 years, traveling extensively and training with many master teachers. With his dance partner, Sarah Harkins, he founded Tango CLT, an Argentine tango school based in Plaza Midwood, in early 2022. His latest venture, The Long Room, aims to create a space that combines his diverse passions and provides Charlotte with a new venue that celebrates creative expression and community.
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Sarah Hayes Harkins danced professionally for 15 seasons with Charlotte Ballet, performing principal roles in both timeless masterworks and contemporary pieces in collaboration withworld-renowned choreographers. Her extensive experience with ballet also includes choreography, rehearsal direction, teaching and coaching. In addition to her distinguished career in Charlotte, Sarah has performed at The Kennedy Center, The Hollywood Bowl, in Europe, and at the famous Chautauqua Institution, where she was an artist in residence for ten summer seasons.
A native of North Carolina, Sarah was born and raised in Waynesville and attended NC School of the Arts in high school before matriculating into Charlotte Ballet, then called North Carolina Dance Theater, which became her artistic home for her entire career, until now.
Her tango journey began in 2022 during the pandemic when she and Matthew Seneca began exchanging lessons—ballet for tango. This friendly exchange evolved into an enduring and fruitful partnership; last year the two launched Tango CLT, a school for Argentine tango in Plaza Midwood, and now this year they are thrilled to launch The Long Room.
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Megan is a dance artist, producer, and project manager. Her performance and film works have been presented at concerts, universities, and festivals nationwide, including the American Dance Festival’s Movies by Movers, the NC Dance Festival tour, and the Detroit Dance City Festival. A native of Ohio, Megan received a BFA in Performance and Choreography from Ohio University and a MFA in Dance from Hollins University in partnership with the American Dance Festival.
Since 2016 Megan has been the co-producer of ladyfest CLT, an interdisciplinary performance festival featuring the works of female and femme-identifying artists in Charlotte and beyond. She is also a contributing member of the Goodyear Arts Collective, an artist-led nonprofit and events program in underused spaces. Megan currently teaches adult community dance classes at Open Door Studios.
Megan is beyond excited to be working with Matthew and Sarah at The Long Room and looking forward to helping facilitate more community performances and events in Charlotte!