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We’re diving deep into the transformative world of performing arts education. Twice a month, we chat with industry experts — from seasoned educators to acclaimed artists — who are passionate about nurturing responsible young leaders through the power of performing arts training.
Twice a month we share a ‘What’s Happening At EMC’ segment so that you can hear all the amazingness going on as well as stay in the loop..
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or aspiring artist, you’ll discover actionable insights and inspiring stories that highlight how the arts can shape character, boost confidence, and cultivate leadership skills.
Together, we’ll explore innovative techniques, share valuable resources, and celebrate the incredible impact of the arts in developing the leaders of tomorrow.
Get ready to shine a light on the incredible journey of raising leaders in the performing arts!
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
Join us this week for our Inside EMC segment where we chat:
- Our Spring Concert (Theme) Big Reveal
- Free Form Friday: Family Jam Night
- Company Field Trip, what it’s about, what styles are being learned, and who it’s for
- Imagine That! Mini Event, theme, and what to expect
- Upcoming Open Gym and bringing a friend along
Get Your Brick and Support the Podcast:
For $10 off your brick and to give $10 to the podcast, click HERE.
Let’s Connect on Socials:
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram
Tuesday Jan 13, 2026
Tuesday Jan 13, 2026
In this episode, Robin Snyder-Wiencek interviews Menina Fortunato, a seasoned dancer and entrepreneur, sharing her journey from a competitive dancer to a successful business owner in the performing arts industry.
Menina discusses her background, including her early exposure to dance through her family's dance studios and her eventual move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in commercial dance.
She highlights the challenges dancers face in transitioning from training to professional work and emphasizes the importance of building a strong foundation in both artistic and business skills.
Menina explains her mentorship program, which offers guidance to dancers aiming for careers in various aspects of the performing arts, from commercial dance to Broadway. She also stresses the significance of networking, self-promotion, and developing a strong online presence for dancers today.
The episode concludes with Menina offering advice for parents and studio owners on preparing students for potential careers in the performing arts and encouraging them to pursue their dreams with determination and a well-rounded skill set.
Let’s Connect on Socials:
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram
Tuesday Jan 06, 2026
Tuesday Jan 06, 2026
Join us this week for our Inside EMC segment where we chat:
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Our next Free Form Friday Event: Family Jam Night
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New Boys Class on Saturdays and how to join us
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Sparkle Days coming up in January for our Kreative Kidz classes
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Imagine That! Mini Event and announcing our first theme
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Spaghetti with Eddie and when the next cookout will be
Get Your Brick and Support the Podcast:
For $10 off your brick and to give $10 to the podcast, click HERE.
Let’s Connect on Socials:
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram
Tuesday Dec 30, 2025
Tuesday Dec 30, 2025
Robin sits down with fellow performing arts mom Kim Treloar to talk honestly about what it’s like to raise children in the spotlight.
From Broadway auditions and national anthems to rejection, resilience, and redefining success, Kim shares her sons’ very different journeys through theater and music.
Together, they explore the courage it takes to pursue the arts, the tight-knit community that forms among families, and the powerful realization that the skills gained through performing arts matter, even when the path takes an unexpected turn.
Let’s Connect on Socials:
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram
Tuesday Dec 23, 2025
Tuesday Dec 23, 2025
This week we reflect on the magic of The Holiday Celebration, a performance that brought our community together through music, movement, and meaning.
From the dedication shown in rehearsals to the joy felt on stage, this episode is about honoring the heart behind the performance and the dancers who made it shine.
As the lights come down and the season begins to slow, we take a moment to celebrate creativity, growth, and the shared experience of bringing art to life during the holidays.
This episode is both a thank-you and a reflection, a reminder of why we gather, perform, and celebrate together.
Get Your Brick and Support the Podcast:
For $10 off your brick and to give $10 to the podcast, click HERE.
Let’s Connect on Socials:
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram
Tuesday Dec 16, 2025
Tuesday Dec 16, 2025
In this episode, Robin Snyder-Wiencek engages in a deep conversation with Denise Carr, a passionate dance educator and esthetician.
Denise shares her journey from a young dancer to a teacher, discussing the importance of training, the challenges of transitioning from student to teacher, and the impact of different teaching methodologies.
They explore the significance of college dance programs, the value of a dance degree, and the personal choices that shape a dance career.
Denise also talks about her experience with the Horton technique and her journey into the esthetics field, highlighting the balance between her teaching and business endeavors.
The conversation emphasizes the importance of diverse dance experiences and the role of teachers in shaping young dancers' lives.
About Denise:
Denise started dancing at the age of 4 and has continued to dance through high school and college. She graduated in May 2017, receiving her BFA in dance performance from Towson University. Denise trained with many different teachers and choreographers including Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Runqiao Du, Vincent Thomas, and Catherine Horta-Hayden. During her time at Towson she performed with the Towson University Dance Company and performed excerpts choreographed by Runqiao Du, Darrell Moltrie, and Kim Bailey.
Since graduating, she has taught at many different dance programs and studios in the Maryland and Southern PA area for over 10 years. While she loves teaching, Denise also enjoys choreographing. She has choreographed for various different productions by Harford Dance Theater and the John Carroll Ballet Academy. She has choreographed routines for different competitive studios in the Maryland area as well.
Denise's passion is educating and inspiring her students and seeing them progress and grow into smart and healthy artists. While Denise is currently teaching and choreographing, she also undergoing a Ailey Horton Teaching Certification and will be graduating in May 2026 from the Ailey School in NYC.
Connect with Denise on Instagram @deenise_nicole
Let’s Connect on Socials:
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram
Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
Join us this week for our Inside EMC segment where we chat:
- Holiday Celebration and supporting your local dancers while making this show your annual family tradition
- Free Form Friday on December 19th and the Dancer Photo Shoot with Meghann Bulls plus free Poms classes with Alli Walker
- Rockstar Ballet Masterclass on Dec 29th, which will be a lovely way to get your body moving while on break, with Christian Richards
Get Your Brick and Support the Podcast:
For $10 off your brick and to give $10 to the podcast, click HERE.
Let’s Connect on Socials:
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram
Tuesday Dec 02, 2025
Tuesday Dec 02, 2025
In this conversation, Robin Snyder-Wiencek & Norma Pera, discuss the multifaceted nature of dance education, emphasizing the importance of setting students up for success, the art of teaching, and the life lessons learned through dance.
They highlight the significance of performance experience, the role of structure in dance classes, and the necessity of fostering resilience and independence in students.
The conversation also touches on the emotional challenges faced by teenagers and the empowering nature of dance as a form of self-expression and personal growth.
About Norma:
Norma Pera began teaching at the Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA) when it opened in 1979 and assumed leadership of the Dance Department in 1992 following the retirement of renowned classical dancer Sylvester Campbell.
Her dance training began at the age of three in a children’s ballet class at Carnegie Hall, and continued from age seven in the studio of Martha Manners on Long Island, NY. Norma went on to perform with the ballet company at Radio City Music Hall, Rudolf Nureyev and Friends, and the Maryland Ballet. She trained extensively under Elena Tchernichova and later taught ballet classes at both Carnegie Hall and in Baltimore.
Campbell, her colleague at the Maryland Ballet, recruited her to join him at the then newly established BSA. At the time, many students had no prior ballet training, and Norma embraced the challenge of designing a curriculum that taught not only ballet technique but also its history and traditions.
As Dance Department Head, she expanded the curriculum to include men’s classes, pas de deux, and men’s and women’s variations classes. Under her leadership, BSA became one of the few high schools in the nation granted permission to perform works by the legendary choreographer George Balanchine.
Dancers trained under Ms. Pera have gone on to perform with esteemed companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Béjart Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Kidd Pivot, Lines Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Sacramento Ballet, and the Washington Ballet.
Beyond the world of dance, BSA alumni under her guidance have also found success in a wide range of fields. They have worked with organizations such as DreamWorks Animation, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, and the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs, and have become doctors, social workers, and dance studio owners, among many other professions.
Let’s Connect on Socials:
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram
Tuesday Nov 25, 2025
Tuesday Nov 25, 2025
Join us this week for our Inside EMC segment where we chat:
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Production Rehearsals
- All Things Holiday Celebration Hub
Get Your Brick and Support the Podcast:
For $10 off your brick and to give $10 to the podcast, click HERE.
Let’s Connect on Socials:
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram
Tuesday Nov 18, 2025
Tuesday Nov 18, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Robin Snyder-Wiencek speaks with Samantha Jo Harvey about her journey in the performing arts, from her early influences and training in dance to her experiences as a Rockette.
They discuss the challenges and triumphs of pursuing a career in dance, the transition to coaching and entrepreneurship, and the balance of motherhood with a thriving career.
Samantha emphasizes the importance of authenticity, self-acceptance, and the lessons learned along the way, inspiring future generations of dancers to follow their passions.
About Samantha:
Sam is a former pro dancer + fitness expert turned podcast host, coach, and guide for ambitious women who refuse to be put in a box. She’s a multidimensional mama showing the world that you can hold it all: the baby and the business, the softness and the fire, the money and the magic.
During her 10-yr Rockette career she was chosen for prestigious performance opportunities like JLO on SNL, Pitbull on America’s Got Talent, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wendy Williams Show, the Today Show and more. Other credits include Nike Master Trainer, Ted 2, MAC, Toyota, Beachbody’s 21 Day Fix, Denise Austin + more.
After a decade kicking eye-high with the Radio City Rockettes, initiating a divorce, and building two multiple 6-figure businesses, Sam became a mindset ninja and champion of women living unapologetically full out. Her work is an invitation to every woman to stop shrinking, take up space, and write her own rules—because having it all isn’t just a dream, it’s a way of being.
Sam’s clients have left jobs to travel the world, walked away from unfulfilling relationships, built empires from side hustles, and reignited intimacy in their partnerships—all while prioritizing their own body, mind, spirit, and joy.
She’s trained on mindset + energetics across the US and internationally, and when she’s not dropping truth bombs on the Full Out podcast, you’ll find her in ballet class, sipping her favorite greens drink or soaking up snuggles with her son.
To work with Sam, email sam@samanthajoharvey.com or connect with her on Instagram
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Let’s Connect on Socials:
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook
EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook
In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram