The Business of Dance

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 the career-defining opportunities that led her to dance with Alberta Ballet, Ballet San Jose, and Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Alison opens up about transitioning from ballet into the commercial dance world, including her move to Los Angeles and booking major opportunities with artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Kendrick Lamar, Brent Faiyaz, Kanye West, and more. She highlights the importance of versatility, visibility, resilience, and trusting your instincts while navigating the dance industry.
Beyond performing, Alison discusses the launch of A.S. Dancewear and what it takes to build a business while remaining connected to the dance community. She shares how the pandemic shifted her priorities and pushed her to redefine success on her own terms. Her story is a powerful reminder that a dance career does not have to follow one path, and that persistence, adaptability, and strong relationships can open doors in many different directions.
Shownotes:
00:02 – Introduction to Alison Stroming’s journey
03:18 – Early training and dance family background
04:30 – Nutcracker performance sparks ballet passion
05:44 – Transitioning from competition to ballet
06:45 – Rejection leads to first contract
08:18 – Navigating companies and finding alignment
09:30 – Touring internationally expands artistic growth
11:19 – Moving to LA for commercial dance
12:10 – First major job with Jennifer Lopez
13:30 – Pandemic forces major career pivot
13:54 – Launching A.S. Dancewear brand
15:29 – Shifting business focus and priorities
17:21 – Setting long-term Broadway career goals
25:28 – Versatility essential across dance styles
42:43 – Balancing entrepreneurship with dance career
Biography:
Alison Stroming is a professional dancer, model, teacher, choreographer, and entrepreneur. Born in Recife, Brazil and raised in New York City, she began her formal ballet training at age nine at the School of American Ballet before continuing on full scholarship at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre. She later joined ABT Studio Company before beginning her professional career with Alberta Ballet.
Alison has performed with Alberta Ballet, Ballet San Jose, and Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she danced principal roles and toured internationally. She has also performed with Aretha Franklin at the Kennedy Center Honors and toured with Sarah McLachlan during the Hope Rising! Canadian Tour.
As a commercial dancer and model, Alison has appeared in campaigns for Tumi, Canon, Under Armour, Free People Movement, Adidas, McDonald’s, and American Eagle. She has also worked on projects for Jennifer Lopez, India Arie, Mariah Carey, Kendrick Lamar, Brent Faiyaz, and Kanye West.
In 2018, Alison launched A.S. Dancewear, a brand focused on mentorship, empowerment, and supporting dancers. She continues to perform, teach, choreograph, and inspire dancers around the world.
Connect with Alison:
Website: https://www.alisonstroming.com
A.S. Dancewear: https://www.asdancewear.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonstroming
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlisonStroming

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 shift into commercial dance and hip-hop training. She reflects on getting signed young, building her teaching career from the ground up by renting her own studio space, and using social media intentionally to create visibility for both her choreography and her students. Her story is a strong example of how consistency, self-belief, and a clear understanding of your strengths can build a sustainable career in dance.
Kelly also opens up about pivotal career moments, including choreographing for Shakira, creating the viral Descendants “Red” dance, working with Disney again for Zombies 4, and stepping into the convention circuit with Press Play. She speaks candidly about the sacrifices that come with an unpredictable dance career, the importance of finding balance, and why comparison can be one of the biggest traps for dancers. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes confidence, cleanliness, performance quality, leadership, and health, while reminding dancers to stop chasing someone else’s lane and instead build a career around what makes them unique.
Show Notes
Kelly started dance later than most

Competition dance quickly became serious training

Hip-hop training shifted her career path

Renting her own studio built momentum

Student videos helped grow her platform

Shakira was her first big choreography break

Red became a major viral moment

Press Play marks a new chapter

Comparison can block your growth

Health and balance sustain longevity

Biography:
Kelly Sweeney is a dynamic choreographer, educator, and creative force with a diverse career across television, film, live entertainment, theater, and professional sports. Born in Mexico and raised in Los Angeles, Kelly began choreographing in her early teens, launching her professional choreography career at just 18 years old.
Her credits span some of the industry’s most recognized stages and screens. Kelly served as a choreographer for NBC’s Dancing with Myself, featuring Shakira and Nick Jonas, and has assisted on major dance television productions including So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars. Most recently, she contributed to Disney’s Descendants: The Rise of Red, further expanding her work in film and commercial entertainment.
Kelly is also currently choreographing for top NBA entertainment teams, including the Laker Girls and the Knicks City Dancers, while continuing to collaborate with emerging music artists on live performances, creative direction, and music videos. Her recent work also includes choreography for Eurovision finalist and performer Silia Kapsis.
With roots in musical theater, Kelly brings a strong storytelling foundation to her work. She has choreographed productions including Seussical and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for Sierra Madre Playhouse, blending technical excellence, performance quality, and emotional expression.
Known for her versatility, creativity, and ability to bring out the best in dancers, Kelly continues to make her mark as a sought-after choreographer and educator across the entertainment industry.
Connect on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/kellysweeney1/

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 observation, and learning how to navigate the industry by staying adaptable, observant, and open to unexpected opportunities. His story is a powerful reminder that there is no single timeline in dance, and that success often comes from taking a different road than the one you originally imagined.
George also dives deep into the realities of the professional dance world, including how relationships can shape your career more than money, why strategy matters in auditions, and how dancers must learn to identify their lane while still building versatility. He speaks candidly about moving from New York to Los Angeles, booking major opportunities through submissions and connections, and eventually transitioning from performer to choreographer and mentor. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes collaboration, self-awareness, resilience, and the importance of building a career that reflects who you truly are, not just what the industry expects from you.
Top 10 Show Notes
3:47 — George started dancing at 17

6:31 — College scholarship launched his dance path

8:55 — He found his lane in dance

10:46 — Rhapsody James changed his commercial career

15:22 — New York built grit and artistic layers

18:56 — LA became the next career move

26:09 — Skeleton crew work led to bigger jobs

31:00 — Britney tour came through visibility and submissions

41:00 — He built his own lane as choreographer

1:08:19 — Auditions require strategy, not just talent

Biography:

George Jones Jr. is an accomplished choreographer, educator, and performer with extensive experience across commercial dance, live performance, and elite team choreography. His career launched working with Britney Spears and has since included collaborations with Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, and Usher, along with appearances on major television shows, award stages, and international tours.
A graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, George combines strong technical training with a foundation in production and visual design, bringing a well-rounded creative approach to his work. Which ranges from a flashy Jazz and  Jazz Funk Technique, to a hard hitting and visually impactful Hip Hop technique. 
He has choreographed for professional teams including the Dallas Cowboys Rhythm & Blue Dancers and Sacramento Kings Dancers, and has spent over a decade working with Varsity Spirit, developing and training dancers at a national level.
Currently represented by MSA Agency, George continues to teach and choreograph internationally while focusing on creating high-impact work for collegiate and professional dance teams.
Connect on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrgeorgejonesjr/

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 he had from a young age that dance would not just be his passion, but his profession, despite pushback from a world that did not yet see dance—especially for boys—as a serious career path. From his first paid job at 17 to years spent performing, judging, and teaching around the world, Gary’s story is one of persistence, adaptability, and saying yes to opportunity.
The conversation also dives into the business side of dance in a powerful way. Gary discusses how Arthur Murray has remained successful for more than a century by focusing on fun, connection, and community, while also explaining the urgent need to modernize through social media, updated systems, and broader visibility. He shares entertaining stories about teaching Michael Jackson a cha-cha to “Billie Jean,” spending time with Janet Jackson and other celebrities, and emphasizes that even the biggest stars simply want to be treated like human beings. Most importantly, he offers dancers practical advice on resilience, pivoting through rejection, learning business skills, managing time well, and creating sustainable careers in dance beyond performance alone.
Top 10 Show Notes
1:29 — Gary began dancing at seven years old

5:22 — First paid dance job at 17

6:01 — Opportunity led him to Arthur Murray

9:55 — Fun and community built lasting success

12:55 — Social media changed dance business completely

16:33 — Never give up, learn to pivot

28:29 — Taught Michael Jackson cha-cha to Billie Jean

30:40 — Michael transformed completely in dance mode

23:56 — UNF partnership creates dance business pathway

1:06:13 — Dance changed a veteran’s life forever

Biography:

Gary Edwards, CEO of Arthur Murray Dance Studios, has spent over four decades immersed in the dance industry, earning a reputation as a distinguished leader and innovator. As a world-ranked dancer, his competitive achievements have solidified his status within the dance community. In addition to his vast expertise in dance education and studio management, Gary also brings a strong presence in the media world, having collaborated on various dance projects, television appearances, and productions that celebrate the art of dance.
Connect on Social Media:
Website: www.arthurmurray.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/arthurmurrayintl/​​https://www.instagram.com/ballroomgiant/

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 helped spark her desire to create more opportunities for Nashville dancers, eventually leading her to launch an agency rooted in mentorship, relationships, and genuine care for talent.
Karynn opens up about the growth of Nashville’s entertainment scene, the power of collaboration between agencies, and why dancers should never limit themselves to one box. From casting Emmy-winning commercial work to seeing choreography land inside Fortnite, she reminds dancers that authentic work, strong preparation, and being visible can lead to unexpected opportunities.
Throughout the conversation, Karynn gives practical advice for young dancers pursuing representation: follow instructions, keep training, clean up your Instagram, build an EPK, research the people in the room, and be kind to everyone. She also emphasizes the importance of improv, professionalism, persistence, and creating your own opportunities, especially for dancers from smaller cities or nontraditional markets.
Show Notes:
(00:41) Karynn’s early dance roots and family inspiration

(03:27) Why Nashville needed its own talent agency

(04:50) How Solace helped inspire Karynn’s career path

(06:00) Fresh Talent Group meets Millennium Dance Complex

(09:40) Millennium becomes Nashville’s creative rehearsal hub

(12:17) Representing dancers, singers, actors, and influencers

(14:05) Why Karynn refuses to box dancers in

(16:38) Emmy-winning work from authentic creative passion

(20:23) Advice for international dancers pursuing American agencies

(32:00) Instagram presence matters more than dancers realize

(35:20) Why every dancer needs a strong EPK

(40:01) The biggest teen mistake: ignoring instructions

(42:23) Improv reveals smart, castable dancers quickly

(47:00) Auditions begin before entering the room

(1:26:58) Small-town dancers need perseverance and uniqueness

Biography:
Karynn Wright-Hough is an Emmy Award–winning talent agent, entrepreneur, and Founder of FreshTalent Group, a boutique agency representing dancers, choreographers, actors, singers, and specialty talent. Originally from Buffalo, NY, she combines her background in journalism, marketing, and design with a passion for developing artists and building lasting careers.
Inspired in part by watching her daughter Solace pursue her own professional path, Karynn launched FreshTalent Group in 2016 to create a trustworthy, family-centered approach to talent representation. She is known for guiding artists holistically — from development and branding to booking and long-term strategy — always prioritizing longevity over quick wins.
Under her leadership, the agency has worked with major networks and award-winning artists across country, pop, gospel, and hip-hop. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Karynn is a devoted Buffalo Bills fan, enjoys crocheting and crafting, and is most proud of the community and culture she has built through mentorship, integrity, and heart.

Connect on Social Media:
Website: www.freshtalentgroup.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshtalentgroup/