127- Mark Samuels: Descendants, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, Juno Awards, Mary J Blige and Do Dat Crew.

Interview Date: March 22nd, 2026Episode Summary:In this episode, Menina Fortunato sits down with choreographer and movement director Mark Samuels for a conversation about persistence, timing, and carving out your own path in the dance industry. Mark shares how he started out as a self-taught dancer in Toronto, learning choreography by recording music videos on VHS tapes and studying them frame by frame long before YouTube or social media existed.He opens up about his early years dancing with Luther Brown’s group Do Dat, how that experience launched his professional career, and the bold move that changed everything: cold-calling contacts connected to a music video he loved until one of those calls led him to New York for a Mariah Carey project. Mark also reflects on the importance of saying yes, staying versatile, building relationships, and continuing to train beyond your comfort zone. From assisting Paul Becker for years to choreographing recent major projects like the Juno Awards, Mark’s story is a reminder that longevity in this industry comes from talent, initiative, and consistency.Show Notes0:01 — Mark’s dance career and major credits intro2:45 — Learning dance from VHS and MuchMusic10:33 — Joining Luther Brown’s Do Dat crew13:15 — Early paid gigs and touring Canada17:40 — Assisting Paul Becker for years in film21:05 — Mariah Carey story begins with cold-calling34:36 — “Say yes and figure it out”45:22 — Biggest mistake: not training in more styles57:56 — “Contacts equals contracts” career lesson1:33:31 — Slow growth, patience, and next goals matterIn the early days of his career, Mark danced for countless Canadian artists such as Shawn Desman, Jully Black, Maestro Fresh Wes and Nelly Furtado to name a few. He also danced in Canada’s most notable shows such as The Juno Awards, MMVA’s and So You Think You Can Dance Canada. After spending years as a dancer in Canada, Mark expanded to the US, wherehe was fortunate enough to work with some of the industry‘s biggest choreographers. His journey led him to dance for multi-platinum recording artists such as Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige, Missy Elliott, Kelis, Mario and many more. Today, Mark is a well-established figure in the dance industry. With over 30 years of experience, he has shifted his passion into choreography and movement direction. He‘s collaborated on a number of successful film and TV shows such as A Series Of Unfortunate Events, Disney’s - The Descendants and The Magicians. He recently choreographed The 2025 Juno Awards for Aqyila and Shawn Desman‘s latest music video, “Body.“ He is currently working on his “Back To Life“ nationwide tour.Connect on Social MediaWebsite: https://www.marksamuelsofficial.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/marksamuelsofficial