This week on Rhinestones & Rants, Eshe Gibbs opens up about her powerful journey through the highs and heartbreaks of the dance world. From being treated “like family” to realizing that loyalty can turn toxic, Eshe shares the red flags she missed, the lessons she learned, and the courage it took to walk away, not just from a studio, but from everything holding her back. Now, she’s living her dream, teaching with purpose, and proving that peace, confidence, and self-worth will always outshine fear and control. It’s honest, raw, and deeply inspiring, a story about breaking free, finding your voice, and reclaiming your freedom one eight-count at a time.

This week on Rhinestones and Rants, we’re laughing, crying, and glue-gunning our way through the wild world of dance moms with the one and only Nichole Long, aka The Crazy Dance Mom. If you’ve ever cried in a hotel hallway, panicked over lipstick No. 78, or labeled 14 hangers before sunrise… you’re one of us. From Dream Duffel drama to snack-list wars, Nichole spills the sparkly tea on the chaos, comedy, and heart of dance mom life. 🎧 Watch “Confessions of a Crazy Dance Mom”, premiering Wednesday, October 29 at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET! 👉 Subscribe, laugh with us, and tag your favorite dance mom!

This week, Alyssa Better sits down with industry powerhouse Menina Fortunato - dancer, choreographer, mentor, and creator of The Business of Dance and The Hollywood Summer Tour. From branding and demo reels to taxes, agents, and turning passion into a paycheck, Menina is redefining what it means to go beyond the stage. 📋 Inside the episode: • How to turn training into a career • What studios don’t teach (but should) • Why dancers need business skills now more than ever 💎 Episode premiers on October 22nd 8am PT/11amET #RhinestonesAndRants #BusinessOfDance #DanceCareers #DancePodcast #DanceMoms #DanceEducation #AlyssaBetter #MeninaFortunato

You’ve trained for years, survived competitions, and lived in rhinestones, but what comes after high school or college? If you or your dancer is majoring in dance, what’s the end game? In this episode of Rhinestones & Rants, host Alyssa Better and guest Vicky dive deep into the real career paths that start with a dance degree, from Broadway and Beyoncé to choreography, conventions, content creation, and even corporate creative careers. We’re talking jobs, money, and mindset and breaking the myth that a dance degree is a dead end.  Because the end game isn’t “What now?” …it’s “Watch me.”

High school dance isn’t just pep rallies and pom poms. In this episode of Rhinestones & Rants, Alyssa Better sits down with Andrew Allen, National Grand Championship coach of Valencia High School Dance Team, to reveal what it really takes to build a winning program. From tryouts and team culture to mental health, costs, and life beyond the title, Andrew shares the truths every dancer, parent, and coach needs to hear.

Behind every national title is a mom who makes it happen. 👑 In this episode of Rhinestones & Rants, Alyssa Better sits down with Lindsay, mom to the powerhouse dancers of Valencia High School. From navigating high school dance team life to balancing studio, school, and competitions, Lindsay shares what it really takes to raise dancers who shine on the biggest stages. 💃✨ She also opens up about the lessons, sacrifices, and support systems that help her kids thrive, not just as champions, but as people.  

Think you know what it takes to get into a college dance program? Spoiler: it’s WAY more than just nailing the combo. 👀 In this episode of Rhinestones & Rants, we sit down with Joe Alter of San Diego State University (SDSU), a dance educator, mentor, and admissions insider who has seen it ALL. From essays and interviews to audition photos and solos, Joe is pulling back the curtain on what really goes down behind the table. ✨ What you’ll learn: • The real difference between a BA and BFA (and why it matters) • What happens in a college dance audition (beyond the pirouettes 💃) • Why “dream school” ≠ “best fit” • The #1 mindset shift every competition dancer needs before college • How SDSU helps dancers grow into confident college artists • Insider Qs to ask BEFORE applying If you’re a dancer, parent, or mentor navigating the leap from studio to stage, this is the must-watch, must-share episode. Joe’s advice is honest, empowering, and could save you years of confusion (and $$$).

You asked, we delivered. The conversation continues in Part TWO of our College Dance Series on Rhinestones and Rants 💎 In Part 1, we decoded the basics of a B.A. vs. B.F.A. degree. Now in Part 2, we’re taking it deeper: 👉 How auditions REALLY work beyond the combo (interviews, improv, solos & more). 👉 Red flags in program brochures 🚩 (and what they mean for your dancer’s future). 👉 The truth about triple-threat training vs. single-focus conservatories. 👉 How to prepare early (yes, junior year!) so you’re not scrambling. ✨ Hosted by Alyssa Better with dance mom & researcher ReJana Krause, this is the episode every parent and dancer needs before applications, prescreens, and auditions hit.

Welcome to Part ONE of our College Dance Series on Rhinestones and Rants💎 In this episode, host Alyssa Better sits down with dance mom & researcher ReJana Krause to break down what every dancer and parent needs to know before stepping into the college dance world. 👉 What’s the REAL difference between a B.A. and a B.F.A.? 👉 How do training hours, performance opportunities, and career outcomes compare? 👉 Which degree opens doors for YOUR dancer’s future? We’re pulling back the rhinestone curtain and telling you the truths they don’t put in the brochures. If you’ve got auditions, applications, or just big dance dreams, this is your roadmap.    

Not every opportunity in dance is safe. From “free” photoshoots to sketchy ambassador deals, predators know how to play the game. ⚠️ In this must-see episode, Alyssa Better & Vicky Inger expose the red flags every parent an dancer needs to know. 🎬 LIVE Premiere: Wed 9/3 @ 8AM PT | 11AM ET 👉 Subscribe + hit 🔔 so you don’t miss it. #WhenFreeIsntFree #DanceSafety #RhinestonesAndRants #ProtectOurDancers #DanceParentsUnite #DanceIndustryTruths #BehindTheCurtain #DanceWorldUnfiltered #RedFlagRealTalk #GlitterAndGrit

THIS. IS. IT. 👑✨ Brian Friedman: PART 2. Does he know the power he holds over a room? Oh, he knows and today, so will you. ⚡ LIVE PREMIERE: TODAY, 8AM PT / 11AM ET ⚡ 👉 Join the chat. Witness the legend. Be part of history. #BrianFriedman #DanceLegends #DanceIcons #RhinestonesAndRants #BrianUnleashed #PremiereDay #ChoreoLegend #IconEnergy

🚨✨ THE WAIT IS OVER ✨ 🚨 The legend. The icon. The choreographer who redefined pop culture. BRIAN. FREAKING. FRIEDMAN. 🎤💎 From Britney to Beyoncé, Bieber to the biggest stages on earth, Brian has shaped the dance world as we know it. And NOW… he’s telling ALL. 🎬 LIVE PREMIERE 📅 Wednesday 8/20 — 8AM PT | 11AM ET 💥 Be there. Be loud. Be part of history. ⚡ PLUS: This story is SO HUGE, it’s a 2-PART SERIES. Part 1 → Aug 20 - 8am PT/11am ET Part 2 → Aug 27 - 8am PT/11am ET Trust us: You cannot miss this. 💎 Join the chat. Drop the 🔥. Witness the brilliance. 👉 SUBSCRIBE + HIT THE 🔔 NOW: /@RhinestonesAndRants #BrianFriedman #DanceLegends #RhinestonesAndRants #ChoreographyKing #DanceIcons #2PartSeries #LivePremiere

She doesn’t just train dancers. She makes global superstars.Quinn Callahan: The visionary behind The Rock Center for Dance has built a legacy that stretches from the first barre to the biggest stages in the world. Now, she’s pulling back the curtain on:💎 What it really takes to rise to the top🌱 Why she started The S.E.E.D. Program to give every dancer a shot🔥 The grit, the heart, and the unstoppable drive behind the icons 🌱 Support the S.E.E.D. Program: Give a dancer their shot. Donate here → https://www.seedance.org/  

She didn’t inherit it. She didn’t stumble into it. Toni Ricci built Elite Dance Center with grit, guts, and a whole lot of glitter.In this week’s episode of Rhinestones and Rants, we sit down with the powerhouse behind one of the most iconic studios in the competitive dance world and the woman beside her shaping the next generation of artists: Keli Adams, Elite’s fearless Director of Dance. From Broadway stages to award-winning choreography, Toni and Keli open up about sacrifice, vision, and what it really takes to create a space where dancers become legends. 💥 This is more than a studio. It’s a movement. 💖 This is the Elite story - raw, real, and radiant. 🎬 Watch the LIVE PREMIERE 📅 Wednesday at 8AM PT / 11AM ET 📲 Subscribe to catch every moment as it drops! ✨ New episodes every Wednesday Rhinestones and Rants is now streaming on all major podcast platforms.🔗 Binge Episodes 1–6 while you wait: 🔥 Red flags. 💼 Studio owner drama. 👩‍👧 The pressure of being a studio owner’s daughter. 🎤 Brooklyn Jai unfiltered. 💃 Dance parents who don’t play. 👑 And the woman behind the red wall who started it all.

If you know dance, you know Millennium Dance Complex. The bold red logo. The iconic LA backdrop. The world-class choreographers. The Instagram-famous combos. It’s a household name in the dance world. But do you know the woman behind it all? In this electrifying and emotional episode of Rhinestones and Rants, we sit down with Anne-Marie Hudson, the powerhouse CEO and founder of Millennium Dance Complex and let me tell you, this is not just a story about a studio. This is a story about vision, grit, perseverance, and passion. ✨ WATCH THE FULL EPISODE NOW: 👉 https://youtu.be/mRKkJbGTyjs 🎧 Also streaming on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio ⏰ New episodes every Wednesday at 8AM PT / 11AM ET 💬 Drop a comment, tell us what resonated most, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with your dance fam! #MillenniumDanceComplex #AnnMarieHudson #DancePioneer #SheBuiltThis #DanceLegends #RhinestonesAndRants #WomenInDance #DanceEntrepreneur #LAChoreoScene #RedWallIcon

From preschool plot twists to pirouette-filled paths, this dance journey started with one unexpected stage moment. One Danced to Greatness. The Other Had the Breast Intentions. 🎧 Full tea in Episode 5

What does it really take to raise a boy in the world of competitive dance? In this raw, heartfelt, and unfiltered episode, we sit down with Scott and JoAnne Morales — the powerhouse parents behind dance sensation Gavin Morales. From 6-hour round trips for 5-minute auditions to navigating a world not built for boys in ballet shoes, the Morales family’s journey is one of grit, sacrifice, and unconditional love. Scott opens up about his transformation from sports-loving dad to full-on dance supporter, while JoAnne shares what it means to be the rock, the chauffeur, and the heart of a dance family — all while crushing it as an accomplished attorney and businesswoman. 💥 Expect truth. Expect tears. Expect to fall in love with the people behind the pirouettes. ✨ WATCH THE FULL EPISODE NOW:👉 https://youtu.be/Rsx-B9JYdqw 🎧 Also streaming on:Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio ⏰ New episodes every Wednesday at 8AM PT / 11AM ET 💬 Drop a comment, tell us what resonated most, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with your dance fam! #RhinestonesAndRants #GavinMorales #DanceParentsUnfiltered #BoyInDance #DancePodcast #EpisodeDrop #DanceMomGoals #DanceDadProud #CompetitiveDance Listen to Rhinestones & Rants💎 Real talk from the dance world – unfiltered, unforgettable. 📺 Watch Full Episodes:YouTube: @RhinestonesandRants 🎧 Listen On:Apple Podcasts: Click hereSpotify: Click hereRSS Feed: Click here ✨ Highlight Clips & Shorts:YouTube Shorts: Click here 📱 Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram: @rhinestonesandrantsFacebook: Rhinestones and RantsTikTok: @rhinestonesandrantsTwitter/X: @rhinestonesrant  

This week on Rhinestones & Rants, I sit down with the legendary Brooklyn Jai, choreographer to the stars and mentor to the next generation. From Lizzo to 3LW, Soul Train to BET Awards, Brooklyn shares the raw truth behind the grind, the glory, and the grit it takes to make it in the dance industry. We talk passion, purpose, and the power of showing up, moment by moment, class by class. 💎 If you’re in the world of dance (or just love a comeback story), this episode is a must. Listen to Rhinestones & Rants💎 Real talk from the dance world – unfiltered, unforgettable. 📺 Watch Full Episodes:YouTube: @RhinestonesandRants 🎧 Listen On:Apple Podcasts: Click hereSpotify: Click hereRSS Feed: Click here ✨ Highlight Clips & Shorts:YouTube Shorts: Click here 📱 Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram: @rhinestonesandrantsFacebook: Rhinestones and RantsTikTok: @rhinestonesandrantsTwitter/X: @rhinestonesrant

✨ It’s LAUNCH WEEK and we’re going strong! www.rhinestonesandrants.com is UP — and so is Episode 3! 💻🎉 “A Dance Daughter’s Journey: In Time with Cameron Suckle” 💃🎓 Some stories don’t just leave a mark — they leave a rhinestone trail straight to your heart. 💎 In this powerful and deeply personal episode, I sit down with someone I’ve known since she was little: the fierce and resilient Cameron Suckle. Cameron just graduated with her BFA in Dance from UT Austin, and watching her grow into the powerhouse she is today has been nothing short of inspiring. But her journey wasn’t an easy one. From the back row to the front, she opens up about finding her voice, reclaiming her confidence, and pushing through the pressures of growing up in the studio spotlight. It’s emotional. It’s empowering. It’s everything this podcast stands for.   🎧 Catch up on Episodes 1 & 2 now, then meet us for this unforgettable drop. 📅 Episode 3 premieres Friday @ 8am PT / 11am ET 📺    / @rhinestonesandrants   🌐 rhinestonesandrants.com SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram:   / rhinestonesandrants   Facebook:   / rhinestonesandrants   TikTok:   / rhinestonesandrants   Twitter: https://x.com/rhinestonesrant  

🚨 It’s LAUNCH WEEK, and our website is officially LIVE! 💻🎉 RhinestonesAndRants.com is up and so is Episode 2 of the podcast! 💃 When does a dancer know it’s time to step off the stage and step into leadership? For Maia Suckle, it wasn’t one big moment — it was quiet nudges, hard lessons, and one powerful push that led her to open her own studio. 👠➡️📋 🎙️ In this episode of Rhinestones & Rants, Maia spills what really goes on behind the scenes — the pressure, the pivot, and the power it takes to lead a studio. 💎 Spoiler: It’s not all sparkles and trophies. ✨ Stream it now, explore our new website, and be part of our glittery chaos all launch week long! 👉    / @rhinestonesandrants   👉 Explore: https://www.rhinestonesandrants.com/ SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram:   / rhinestonesandrants   Facebook:   / rhinestonesandrants   TikTok:   / rhinestonesandrants   Twitter: https://x.com/rhinestonesrant