The Business of Dance

Recorded October 11, 2026 EPISODE SUMMARY Paul Kirkland is a dancer, choreographer, creative director and director whose career includes touring with Madonna and Christina Aguilera, performing in Burlesque and Battle of the Year, and working behind the scenes with the Backstreet Boys. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Paul moved to Los Angeles at 18 and built a career that expanded from perfo...

Recorded October 4, 2026 EPISODE SUMMARY Misha Gabriel is a dancer, choreographer and actor whose career includes working with Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey, rehearsing for Michael Jackson’s This Is It, contributing choreography to Justin Timberlake’s tours, and playing Eddy in Step Up Revolution and Step Up All In. But behind those credits are cancelled tours, devastating rejection and moments w...

Recorded August 3, 2026 | The Business of Dance VIP Day, Los Angeles EPISODE SUMMARY Tina Landon and Travis Payne helped create the choreography for Michael and Janet Jackson’s “Scream.” In this live conversation with Menina Fortunato, the award-winning choreographers reunite to share two very different perspectives on the same iconic project—and the career lessons behind it. Recorded at The Busin...

Recorded September 20, 2026 EPISODE SUMMARY Chad Geiger, a Los Angeles talent agent with The Movement Talent Agency, joins Menina Fortunato to explain what helps dancers get noticed, earn representation, and build lasting careers. Drawing on his own work with Dua Lipa, Dolly Parton, and James Corden, he shares what he understands now from the other side of the audition table—and what he wishes he...

Recording / Interview Date: October 20, 2025 EPISODE SUMMARY What helps a dancer build a career that lasts? Join Menina Fortunato on the red carpet at Avalon Hollywood for the 2025 Industry Dance Awards, where conversations with performers, choreographers, educators, and industry leaders go beyond the spotlight to explore the work, relationships, and resilience behind a life in dance. From embraci...

Interview Date: September 13, 2026 EPISODE SUMMARY Vancouver-born dancer, choreographer, and teacher Travis Lim joins Menina Fortunato to share his journey from childhood competitions and Michael Jackson-inspired solos to UCLA and professional dance work in Los Angeles. With credits including Lisa of BLACKPINK and Hollywood Arts, Travis offers an honest look at the artistic growth, relationships,...

Interview Date: August 30, 2026 Episode Summary In Episode 149 of The Business of Dance Podcast , host Menina Fortunato sits down with Los Angeles-based choreographer, movement director, and performer Noelle Marsh . Noelle traces her path from a small dance studio in North Carolina to the world stage, beginning with dance at age three, competing nationally, and appearing on So You Think You Can Da...

Interview Date: February 15, 2026 EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of The Business of Dance Podcast , Menina Fortunato sits down with New York City-based dancer and content creator Melissa Becraft to unpack the persistence, creativity, and unexpected opportunities behind her career. Melissa shares how she started dancing at 12, moved from South Carolina to New York City at 18, and spent four years...

Interview Date: August 16th Episode Summary: In this episode of The Business of Dance Podcast , Menina Fortunato sits down with Los Angeles-based performer, choreographer, acrobat, and educator Joey Vice to explore the unconventional path that took him from a young competitive dancer in Ohio to performing his dream role with Cirque du Soleil. Joey shares how he transitioned from soccer to dance, d...

Interview Date: August 9th, 2026 Episode Summary: In this episode of The Business of Dance Podcast , Menina Fortunato sits down with Canadian choreographer Alex Francoeur to trace the journey that took him from a nine-year-old boy reluctantly entering his first hip-hop class in Quebec to building a full-time career across performance, choreography, television, live production, and entrepreneurship...

Interview Date: July 26th, 2026 Episode Summary: In this episode of The Business of Dance Podcast, Menina Fortunato reconnects with Hollywood Summer Tour alum Angelica Valente, whose journey has taken her from competitive dancer in Thunder Bay, Ontario, to an LA-based director, producer, fashion designer, and creative entrepreneur. Angelica shares how an early trip to Los Angeles changed the traje...

Interview Date: August 2nd, 2026 Episode Summary: In this episode of The Business of Dance Podcast , Menina Fortunato sits down with legendary B-boy, choreographer, creative producer, and three-time World Champion Ivan “Flipz” Velez for a conversation about building a career that lasts. Ivan shares his journey from discovering breaking and pursuing his passion in New York to becoming a professiona...

Interview Date: July 19th, 2026 Episode Summary: In this episode, Brandon Henschel shares his journey from discovering dance at age 12 after being inspired by Michael Jackson to building a successful, decades-long career as a performer, choreographer, director, and educator. He reflects on breaking into the entertainment industry in the 1990s, landing one of his first major opportunities in a Mich...

Interview Date: July 12th, 2026 Episode Summary: In this episode, Tanya Jane shares her journey from a young professional dancer in Australia to building a thriving career in Los Angeles—and ultimately transitioning into a seven-figure success energetics coaching business. After moving to LA at just 19, she navigated visas, broke into the industry without connections, and built a decade-long caree...

Interview: July 5th, 2026 Episode Summary: In this episode, German Morales—talent agent, manager, producer, and founder of MGMT Artists—shares an inside look into the entertainment industry and what it truly takes to build a sustainable career as a performer. With over 20 years of experience, German walks through his unconventional journey from aspiring actor to becoming a leading talent represent...

Interview Date: June 28th, 2026 Episode Summary: In this episode, Tina Oleff, agent at MSA Talent Agency, shares her dynamic journey through the dance industry—from her early days as a competitive dancer in Ohio to building a multifaceted career across performance, production, broadcasting, and talent representation. She highlights how there is no single path to success, emphasizing the importance...

Interview Date: June 21st , 2026 Episode Summary: In this powerful and expansive conversation, Jeff Thacker—executive producer of So You Think You Can Dance —shares his journey from an untrained school dancer to one of the most influential figures in global dance entertainment. He walks through each stage of his career evolution—from performer to choreographer to producer—emphasizing that longevit...

Interview Date: October 20th, 2025Episode Summary:This special red carpet episode of The Business of Dance Podcast takes you inside the Gala of the Stars at the Beverly Hilton, a powerful evening supporting Dancers Against Cancer. Host Menina Fortunato interviews some of the most influential names in dance and entertainment, capturing real-time insights, career advice, and heartfelt moments from i...

Interview Date: June 14th, 2026 Episode Summary: In this episode, Julian Mireles shares his unconventional journey into dance, beginning with a background in martial arts and overcoming early physical limitations. Starting later than most, Julian developed a deep curiosity for movement, leading him to study anatomy, biomechanics, and performance science to accelerate his growth and prevent injury....

Interview Date: June 7th, 2026 Episode Summary: This episode dives into Sienna Morris’s journey from a dedicated young dancer to a working professional in Los Angeles, highlighting the mindset, preparation, and initiative required to succeed in today’s dance industry. From choosing dance over gymnastics at an early age to navigating a short-lived opportunity in Monaco, Sienna demonstrates the impo...

Interview Date: May 31st, 2026 Episode Summary: In this episode, Alison Stroming shares her inspiring journey from classical ballet training to building a dynamic career across concert dance, commercial work, teaching, choreography, and entrepreneurship. She reflects on her early training at the School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theatre’s JKO School, the challenges of rejection, and th...

Interview Date: August 4th, 2025 Episode Summary: In this episode of The Business of Dance Podcast , Kelly Sweeney shares her journey from starting dance at age 10 to becoming one of the busiest teachers, choreographers, and creatives in Los Angeles. Originally from Mexico and raised in LA, Kelly talks about growing up bilingual, moving quickly through the competition world, and making an early sh...

Episode Summary In this episode of The Business of Dance Podcast , George Jones Jr. shares his unconventional path into the dance industry, from starting dance at 17 to building a successful commercial career working with artists like Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, and Usher. He opens up about coming from a musical theater foundation, teaching himself hip-hop through culture and obse...

Interview date: May 3rd, 2026 Episode 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 h...

Interview Date: April 26th, 2026 Episode 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 he...