Interview Date: March 22nd, 2026
Episode 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 Notes
0:01 — Mark’s dance career and major credits intro
2:45 — Learning dance from VHS and MuchMusic
10:33 — Joining Luther Brown’s Do Dat crew
13:15 — Early paid gigs and touring Canada
17:40 — Assisting Paul Becker for years in film
21:05 — Mariah Carey story begins with cold-calling
34:36 — “Say yes and figure it out”
45:22 — Biggest mistake: not training in more styles
57:56 — “Contacts equals contracts” career lesson
1:33:31 — Slow growth, patience, and next goals matter
In 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 Media
Website: https://www.marksamuelsofficial.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marksamuelsofficial
