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The Business of DanceAuthor: MENINA FORTUNATO
Welcome to the 'Business of Dance' with your host Menina Fortunato. Tune in as we dive into insightful interviews with industry experts, sharing personal journeys and career advice for aspiring pro dancers. This podcast is your key to turning your dance dreams into reality. Language: en-us Genres: Arts, Performing Arts Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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131- Karynn Hough: Founder of FRESHTALENT Group, Emmy Award Winning Talent Agent, Director of Millenium Dance Complex Nashville
Sunday, 3 May, 2026
Interview Date: April 26th, 2026Episode 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 uniquenessBiography: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.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshtalentgroup/
