The Business of Dance

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Bree Hafen, the CEO and founder of the popular dancewear brand, Tiger Friday. Bree shares her journey in the dance world, from childhood dance classes to professional performances with Odyssey Dance Theater, and how her passion for fashion and dance led her to create Tiger Friday. Aiming to provide dancers with stylish, comfortable, and high-quality dancewear, Bree discusses the challenges she faced and how personal...

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B Girl Bonita, a professional dancer, choreographer, teacher, and studio owner from Phoenix, Arizona. Bonita shares her unique journey from a traditional dance studio kid to a prominent figure in the hip-hop dance world. Her career highlights include dancing with major artists like Jason Derulo, P. Diddy, and the Black Eyed Peas, as well as performing on popular shows such as Dancing with the Stars and American Idol...

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Justin Corbo, a professional dancer, choreographer, content creator, and videographer. With over 3 million followers and 1 billion views across his social media platforms, Justin shares his journey from competitive figure skating in Montreal to becoming one of the most sought-after influencers and creatives in the dance industry.

Justin reveals how he transitioned into dance and, later, videography, learning everythi...

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Frank Gatson, a legendary choreographer with a career spanning decades. Frank shares his incredible journey in the dance world, beginning with his humble beginnings in Milwaukee, where he first discovered his love for dance. He reminisces about his early experiences, including dancing in "Smooth Criminal" with Michael Jackson, working with Beyoncé throughout her solo career, and choreographing iconic perfo...

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Chantal Robson, a choreographer, creative director, and producer with an impressive career working with pop icons like NSYNC, Britney Spears, Madonna, and Demi Lovato. Chantal shares her remarkable journey from Australia to the heart of the entertainment industry, offering invaluable insights into her evolution from a professional dancer to a leading figure in creative direction and production.

Chantal discusses her ...

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Chuck Maldonado, a highly sought-after choreographer and creative director. Chuck shares his inspiring journey from a late start in dance at the age of 29 to becoming a key figure in the industry. He reflects on his early experiences with street dance and formal training, which eventually led to his involvement in the Centennial Olympic Games, where he worked with legendary choreographer Kenny Ortega. Chuck also dis...

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Host Menina Fortunato takes listeners on the red carpet at the Industry Dance Awards. Featuring exclusive interviews with top dance industry professionals, award recipients, and performers, the episode highlights inspiring stories, career advice, and upcoming projects from some of the biggest names in dance. From honoring dance veterans to young rising stars, this episode is a must-listen for aspiring dancers and in...

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Megan, a Senior Talent Agent at McDonald Selznick Associates (MSA), to explore the world of dance representation. Megan shares her unique journey from being a dancer to becoming an agent and provides invaluable insights into what makes a successful client in the dance industry. She discusses the qualities MSA looks for in dancers, such as professionalism, strong communication, and the ability to respond quickly to ...

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Rachel Markarian, a versatile entertainment professional with an illustrious career as a dancer, choreographer, actor, and educator. Rachel takes us through her inspiring journey from her early struggles with ballet to becoming a seasoned artist working with industry legends like Rihanna, Katy Perry, Beyoncé, and more. 

Rachel discusses her pivotal moments, from moving to New York at 15 to pursuing her career in Lo...

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Aliya Janell, a dancer, choreographer, and influencer who has made a major impact in the dance world. Known for her viral choreography videos, Aliya has worked with top artists like Beyoncé, Chris Brown, and Nicki Minaj. She takes us through her journey from a young hip hop dancer in L.A. to becoming an online sensation with millions of views on platforms like YouTube. 

Aliya discusses her early days training at Mi...

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Lucille DiCampli, a distinguished talent agent with over three decades of experience in the dance industry. Lucille’s career journey began as a recreational dancer, encouraged by her father to pursue ballet. Her passion led her to Los Angeles, where she transitioned into agenting after realizing her natural ability to advocate for dancers and choreographers. Lucille shares how she helped shape the landscape for dan...

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Menina Fortunato interviews Jonathan George, CEO of Unleash Your Rockstar, a personal branding expert. Jonathan shares his journey from the music industry to becoming a branding specialist, helping clients gain over 150 million online followers. He emphasizes that talent alone isn’t enough; branding that talent is key to success.

Jonathan provides valuable advice for dancers on using social media to build a persona...

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Christina Ricucci, a dynamic artist who blends singing, songwriting, acting, dancing, and choreography. Christina shares her journey from starting dance at age two to competing and training rigorously, achieving national titles, and landing performances featured in Disney projects. She reflects on how Lyme disease, diagnosed in her teenage years, drastically shifted her career, leading her to explore music and acti...

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Shawn Byfield, an accomplished Canadian performer, choreographer, MC, and author. With an extensive career spanning film, television, and live performances, Shawn shares his personal journey, starting from a hyperactive child to becoming a seasoned dance professional. He recounts how his passion for dance ignited after watching the legendary Gregory Hines perform tap dance on television, leading him to pursue a div...

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Menina Fortunato interviews Traci Reszetylo, a 22-year veteran of the Radio City Rockettes, to discuss her incredible career and journey in the dance world. Traci reflects on her early dance training in Pittsburgh, her move to New York, and her audition experiences for the Rockettes, eventually landing the role on her second attempt. She shares the challenges and rewards of performing with the Rockettes, including ...

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Menina Fortunato interviews Stephanie Landwehr, a seasoned professional in the dance industry, who has worked with top artists such as Cher, Tina Turner, Jessica Simpson, and Macy Gray. Stephanie now works as a dance agent with Block Talent Agency, helping dancers advance their careers.

Stephanie shares her journey from a competitive dancer to a choreographer and, eventually, to an agent. She provides invaluable in...

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Menina Fortunato interviews the accomplished G Madison IV, a dancer, choreographer, and creative director with a career spanning continents and industries. G shares his journey from self-taught beginnings in San Diego to performing alongside global icons like Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and Kendrick Lamar. Now based in Australia, he reflects on transitioning into musical theater and balancing family life with a thrivin...

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Dance legend Anita Mann shares her remarkable journey, offering insights from her extensive career as a dancer, choreographer, and producer. Menina Fortunato introduces Anita, honoring her as a trailblazer who has received five Emmy nominations, with an impressive array of credits, including Solid Gold, the Muppets, and the Academy Awards.

Anita’s career took off when Elvis Presley, impressed with her work, asked ...

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Teresa Espinosa, a celebrated dancer and choreographer, joins the conversation to share her incredible journey and insights on building a dance career. Menina Fortunato introduces Teresa, known for her extensive work with icons like Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, and Justin Bieber, as well as her Emmy-nominated choreography on Janet’s “Velvet Rope” special.

Teresa recounts her early inspirations, sparked by icons ...