The Business of Dance

01:07:20

132: Gary Edwards - CEO of Arthur Murray Dance...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/05/10

Interview date: May 3rd, 2026Episode Summary:In this episode of The Business of Dance Podcast, Gary Edwards shares his remarkable journey from a seven-year-old boy in London learning to dance so he could attend his mother’s events, to becoming a world champion ballroom dancer, international judge, and now CEO and partner of Arthur Murray Dance Studios. He reflects on the unwavering conviction he had from a young age that dance would not just be his passion, but his profession, despite pushback from

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01:31:10

131- Karynn Hough: Founder of FRESHTALENT Group, Emmy...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/05/03

Interview Date: April 26th, 2026Episode Summary:In this episode of The Business of Dance Podcast, Menina Fortunato sits down with Karynn Hough, Director of Millennium Dance Complex Nashville and founder of Fresh Talent Group, for an honest and inspiring conversation about building a dance career outside of the traditional LA/New York path. Karynn shares how her daughter’s professional journey helped spark her desire to create more opportunities for Nashville dancers, eventually leading her to launch

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00:38:17

130 - Austin Lee: Netflix Star Search, Lady Gaga,...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/04/26

Interview Date: April 19th, 2026Episode SummaryIn this episode of The Business of Dance Podcast, Austin Lee shares his inspiring journey from a young boy in Orlando putting on living room performances for his family to becoming a working professional dancer in Los Angeles. He reflects on how dance immediately clicked for him after trying many other sports, and how winning a Hollywood Summer Tour scholarship at his very first convention opened his eyes to the possibilities of a real career in dance

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01:29:27

129: Alicia Mae Holloway - Dance Theatre of Harlem,...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/04/19

Interview Date: April 12th, 2026Episode SummaryIn this episode of The Business of Dance Podcast, Alicia Mae Holloway shares her extraordinary journey from a small-town competition dancer in West Virginia to building a multifaceted career in ballet, commercial dance, modeling, acting, and social media. She reflects on knowing from the age of three that dance was her purpose, and how that conviction led her to leave home at just 13 years old to pursue elite ballet training. From earning a full

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01:39:42

128- Loïc Mabanza: Madonna, Usher, Vogue Germany,...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/04/16

Interview Date: March 29Episode Summary:In this episode of the Business of Dance Podcast, Menina Fortunato sits down with internationally acclaimed dancer, creative, and entrepreneur Loïc Mabanza to explore his inspiring journey from street dancing in Paris to working with some of the biggest names in entertainment. Entirely self-taught, Loïc shares how dance was never something he formally planned for—it was simply part of who he was. Everything shifted when, at just 16 years old, he was paid for

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01:19:42

128- Loïc Mabanza: Madonna, Michael Jackson, Vogue...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/04/12

Interview Date: March 29Episode Summary:In this episode of the Business of Dance Podcast, Menina Fortunato sits down with internationally acclaimed dancer, creative, and entrepreneur Loïc Mabanza to explore his inspiring journey from street dancing in Paris to working with some of the biggest names in entertainment. Entirely self-taught, Loïc shares how dance was never something he formally planned for—it was simply part of who he was. Everything shifted when, at just 16 years old, he was paid for

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01:19:42

127- Mark Samuels: Descendants, So You Think You Can...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/04/05

Interview Date: March 22nd, 2026Episode Summary:In this episode, Menina Fortunato sits down with choreographer and movement director Mark Samuels for a conversation about persistence, timing, and carving out your own path in the dance industry. Mark shares how he started out as a self-taught dancer in Toronto, learning choreography by recording music videos on VHS tapes and studying them frame by frame long before YouTube or social media existed.He opens up about his early years dancing with Luther

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01:18:07

126 - Jason Williams: So You Think You Can Dance,...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/03/29

Interview Date: March 8th, 2026In this inspiring episode, Jason Williams shares his journey from a curious three-year-old stepping into dance class to becoming a globally recognized performer, choreographer, and creative visionary. He reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his career—from boldly inserting himself into opportunities like So You Think You Can Dance to working with icons such as Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. Jason emphasizes the power of initiative, reminding dancers that “visibility is

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00:59:42

125- Jamie Hodgins: International Competitive Dance...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/03/22

Interview Date: March 8th, 2026Episode Summary:In this episode of the Business of Dance Podcast, Menina Fortunato sits down with Jamie Hodgins, Executive Director of the International Competitive Dance Registry (ICDR). Jamie shares his journey from starting dance at 16 in Ottawa to building a multifaceted career as a performer, choreographer, producer, and casting professional. His career includes projects such as Camp Rock 2, touring productions like Hairspray, and collaborations with major artists

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01:25:39

124: Ayesha Orange - FAME, Earth Wind and Fire,...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/03/15

Interview Date: March 1st, 2026Episode Summary:Ayesha Orange joins the Business of Dance to share her incredible journey from a late-starting dancer to one of the most versatile performers in the commercial dance world. Starting as a cheerleader in California, Ayesha discovered dance at 17 and trained under legendary choreographer Marguerite Derricks at Tremaine Studios. Despite feeling behind technically, she pushed through self-doubt and quickly found herself working professionally, landing early

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00:58:19

123- Maycee Steele: Tate Mcrae, Maluma, Demi Lavato,...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/03/08

Interview Date: February 22nd, 2026Episode Summary:In this interview, Maycee Steele shares how she went from being a Kansas City convention kid to building a sustained LA career—booking major moments like Taylor Swift (Billboard Music Awards), Doja Cat (Coachella), and working with J.Lo, before becoming widely recognized through Tate McRae’s tour. She breaks down what tour life actually looks like (buses, no hotels, arena call times), how relationships and reputation lead to direct bookings, and

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00:58:08

122- Curt Hansen: Wicked on Broadway, Nickelodeon’s...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/03/01

Interview Date: February 1st, 2026Episode Summary:Broadway veteran Curt Hansen shares his journey from a quiet kid in small-town Wisconsin to starring on Broadway in Hairspray and spending eight years in Wicked as Fiyero. Along the way, he opens up about booking early, being recast from Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush, working alongside Ariana Grande before her pop superstardom, and learning how to handle the mental side of auditioning.Now the founder of 567 Sing, Curt helps dancers become confident,

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00:58:56

121 - Tony G: Bring it On Franchise, Olivia Rodrigo,...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/02/23

Interview Date: February 8th, 2026Episode Summary:In this powerful and entertaining episode of The Business of Dance, Menina Fortunato sits down with legendary casting director, choreographer, and creative producer Tony Gonzalez (Tony G). With credits spanning the Bring It On franchise, Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U,” Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale Tour, Wayne’s World, The Birdcage, The Masked Singer, and Kids Bop, Tony shares the real story behind his decades-long career in Hollywood. From being told he

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01:09:03

120- Jada Specht: Jason Darulo, Teyana Taylor, Nelly,...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/02/15

Interview Date: January 11th, 2026Episode Summary:In this special two-part episode of The Business of Dance, Menina Fortunato sits down with rising professional dancer Jada Specht for an honest, real-time look at what it truly takes to build a career in today’s commercial dance industry. Joining the conversation directly from rehearsals and then again from home, Jada shares her journey from small-town beginnings to touring internationally with Jason Derulo, highlighting the discipline, adaptability,

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01:04:54

119- Sarah Mitchell: Knicks City Dancer, Christina...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/02/08

Interview Date: December 14th, 2025.In this episode of Business of Dance, Menina sits down with veteran performer and powerhouse industry staple Sarah Mitchell, who joins the conversation nine months pregnant and still glowing (literally). Sarah takes us back to her beginnings in Western Massachusetts—starting dance at two-and-a-half, falling in love with NYC after seeing the Rockettes at age nine, and boldly moving to New York City with limited money but unstoppable determination. From becoming a

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01:20:44

118- Brooke Lipton: Emmy Nominated Choreographer,...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/02/01

Interview date: December 7th, 2025Episode Summary:Brooke Lipton—Emmy-nominated choreographer and longtime Hollywood Vibe faculty member—joins Business of Dance to share her journey from booking her first professional job at 12 to building a lasting career in dance, television, and choreography. She reflects on moving to Los Angeles at 18, training relentlessly, learning how to care for her body, and developing the discipline needed to survive in a competitive industry.Brooke opens up about touring

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01:20:34

117- Shanie Blais: Wicked Film, Karol G Tour, Camila...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/01/25

Interview date: November 30th, 2025Episode Summary:In this Business of Dance interview, Shanie Blais—Montreal-born, LA-based dancer—shares how her career evolved from a small-town studio kid into a working professional with major credits including the Wicked film, the Wicked live performance special, and a stadium/world tour with Karol G. Shanie walks listeners through her early training, her decision to leave Montreal to pursue bigger opportunities, and how she tested both New York and LA in

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01:40:30

116- Eddie Garcia : Michael Jackson (2 Tours + Super...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/01/18

Episode Summary:In this powerful and deeply insightful episode, Eddie Garcia takes listeners on a journey through his extraordinary dance career—from a tap-dancing kid earning scholarships at Dupre’s to becoming one of the youngest dancers ever selected by Michael Jackson. Eddie reflects on the discipline and versatility that shaped him early on, blending classical training with emerging street styles that positioned him perfectly for the explosion of music videos in the 1980s.He shares

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00:57:48

115- Anabella Lenzu: 35 Years of Dance Theater, NYU...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/01/11

Interview Date: November 16th, 2025Episode Summary:In this insightful conversation, internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer, scholar, and educator Anabella Lenzu shares the remarkable journey that shaped her 35-year career. Born in Argentina and classically trained in the prestigious Teatro Colón, Anabella traces her evolution from early flamenco lessons to mastering ballet, modern dance, and dance theater across Argentina, Italy, Chile, London, and New York. She opens up about immigrating

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01:12:57

114- Rhonda Malkin: Radio City Rockette, Glee,...

The Business of Dance ·

2026/01/04

Interview Date: November 9th, 2025Episode Summary:In this episode, Menina sits down with Rhonda Kaufman Malkin to unpack how a competition kid from Irvine turned a packed schedule of AP classes, UCLA coursework, the UCLA Dance Team, and three seasons as an LA Laker Girl into a long-term professional career. Rhonda shares how she balanced college with high-level pro work, why she switched from a dance major to sociology, and how booking five jobs in a row her senior year convinced her to go “all in”

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