Interview Date: October 17, 2025
Episode Summary:
In this landmark 100th episode, the spotlight turns onto the visionary behind it all — Menina Fortunato, creator of The Business of Dance as a dance mentor and podcast host.
Interviewed by longtime friend and fellow performer Linda Ayentes, Menina reflects on her extraordinary career over the decades spanning live entertainment, television, touring, entrepreneurship, and motherhood.
Menina shares her beginnings growing up as a competitive dancer in Canada, her bold move to Los Angeles, and the early hustle of auditioning, securing her agent, and booking major projects. She opens up about performing with icons including Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Paula Abdul, Earth Wind & Fire, Rain, Carmen Electra, and working on massive productions like America's Got Talent, Star Trek: Enterprise, Alias, MAD TV, and more. From national commercials, world tours, TV/Film credits, Menina recounts the highs, heartbreaks, and the pivotal moments that shaped her artistic growth.
This episode also explores Menina’s evolution into producer and mentor—launching The Hollywood Summer Tour, and The Business of Dance online mentorship program helping hundreds of dancers book agents, cruise contracts, national tours, Netflix roles, Disney jobs, and commercial careers. She speaks candidly about balancing motherhood with juggling a career, burnout, rebuilding after 2020, and her mission to elevate and educate the next generation of dancers worldwide.
This episode is perfect for: dancers, choreographers, dance parents, young performers, creatives seeking longevity, and anyone craving inspiration from a woman who has reinvented herself at every stage of her career.
Shownotes:
(0:00) – Celebrating Episode 100 & introducing Menina Fortunato
(2:45) – How Menina and Linda first met
(6:10) – Menina’s early years growing up in dance
(12:40) – Moving to LA & landing her first agent
(18:55) – Booking major jobs: Beyoncé, Paula Abdul, Britney Spears
(27:30) – Performing on TV shows, tours, and award shows
(33:20) – Transitioning into producing and choreography
(47:50) – Launching The Hollywood Summer Tour & elevating young dancers
(1:02:35) – Creating The Business of Dance Mentorship
(1:25:10) – Menina’s advice on career longevity and reinvention
Menina Fortunato is the founder of Menina Entertainment and a powerhouse in the dance and entertainment industry with over 30 years of experience. She has performed on global stages and in major productions such as America’s Got Talent, Latin AMAs, Star Trek: Enterprise, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow—sharing the stage with icons like Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Paula Abdul, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Maluma.Seamlessly transitioning from performer to producer, Menina has choreographed and produced for The X Factor, America’s Got Talent, and music videos filmed at Universal and Paramount Studios.
She has also served as a producer and voting panelist for the Universal Dance Awards and appeared as a guest judge on Dance Moms.As the visionary behind The Hollywood Summer Tour and The Business of Dance—the online mentorship program and podcast—Menina continues to empower and educate dancers worldwide as a dance mentor and podcast host.Her work has been featured in over 400 media outlets including Forbes, Success Magazine, FOX, Billboard, ABC, NBC, and top dance publications and podcasts.
Also a proud wife and mom of three, Menina is known for her resilience, versatility, and lifelong commitment to elevating the next generation of performers.
Connect on social media:
Website:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/meninafortunato/
https://www.instagram.com/thebizofdance/
https://www.instagram.com/dancehst/
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