The Business of Dance

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...

Interview Date: April 19th, 2026 Episode Summary In 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 Tou...

Interview Date: April 12th, 2026 Episode Summary In 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 convict...

Interview Date: March 29 Episode 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 pla...

Interview Date: March 22nd, 2026 Episode 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 b...

Interview Date: March 8th, 2026 In 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 a...

Interview Date: March 8th, 2026 Episode 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 inclu...

Interview Date: March 1st, 2026 Episode 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 t...

Interview Date: February 22nd, 2026 Episode 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 lo...

Interview Date: February 1st, 2026 Episode 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...

Interview Date: February 8th, 2026 Episode 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 S...

Interview Date: January 11th, 2026 Episode 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 sma...

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 n...

Interview date: December 7th, 2025 Episode 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,...

 Interview date: November 30th, 2025 Episode 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, h...

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 s...

Interview Date: November 16th, 2025 Episode 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...