Name: Meagan Patroni
Age: I will be 30 in October 2012.
Online homes: website // dance website // twitter // facebook
Favorite Karina dress: The aptly named ‘Megan‘ — it has the perfect shaping for my body type, and I love that it comes in a range of colours!
- Photo by Dusk Devi
What are your every day, must-reads, online or off?
As soon as I wake up, I reach for my iPad and check out Facebook and Twitter. After that I view my city newspaper (iPad app), and I also check out the news from our Pacific neighbours via Maori News and Pacific Beat. I lived in Vanuatu between 2004 and 2007, and since then, the Pacific has been a part of me. I travel around the Pacific as often as possible, partaking in Pacific culture through dance such as Hawaiian hula, Ori Tahiti and Mau Rākau (stick fighting).
You own your own creative company that specializes in event coordination, public relations, artist management, social media management, copywriting, design, radio production and presentation (!). What’s the best, most exciting event you’ve ever put together?
The biggest and most exciting for me personally was arranging a group of five Tahitian dancers (myself included) to travel to Tahiti in 2008 to attend ‘Heiva i Tahiti’ – one of the largest cultural dance events in the world. We took a year to raise funds for this amazing trip. Can you imagine: “Hi, would you like to donate to Tiare Sydney Tahitian Dance Group so we can go to Tahiti?”
You also travel extensively. What are your top three, must-pack items?
1. Thongs (um, I think in the US you call them flip flops?) — not just for utilisation in communal showers — they come in handy at the beach, especially in the Pacific where there are all kinds of things that can sting if stepped on!
2. Head torch. OK, I’m sounding so practical but really — I have been so glad to have this on the ready in Africa and the Pacific where power supply can be minimal. Even in Australia, it means you can have your hands free to hunt for that item of clothing in your suitcase or read a book without disturbing anyone.
3. Scarf. A good scarf, like my favourite baby pink cotton one, can be used for an added layer of warmth over your lap whilst on the plane, over your shoulders of an evening out, as a hijab in an Islamic country, or around your waist as a sarong in in the Pacific.
If you could give your 16 year old self advice, what would you say?
I would say; Meagan! Listen! Please don’t worry. Everything will be fine. You have within you – everything you need and more. You will have great achievements and great disappointments – but the key is – they will all be great.
- Photo by Kris Ez
Your perfect day. What would it look like?
A swim at ‘my local’ – Bronte Beach, followed by a beautiful breakfast of poached eggs and toasted rye with spinach. A lovely cup of coffee and the newspaper. Next up, markets with friends: vintage clothes and organic food, lots of chatting and giggles. Then an afternoon of absinthe at my favourite bar Absinthesalon, and then a burly (burlesque) show featuring my favourite performers! My night would end — dare I say it? — with lots of naughtiness, leading to hilarious stories to share with my girlies.
Thanks for sharing, Meagan!