136 - Sienna Morris: Netflix’s Star Search, BalletRED, Halsey, Free People Movement, GAP, and Business of Dance Alumni.

Interview Date: June 7th, 2026Episode Summary:This episode dives into Sienna Morris’s journey from a dedicated young dancer to a working professional in Los Angeles, highlighting the mindset, preparation, and initiative required to succeed in today’s dance industry. From choosing dance over gymnastics at an early age to navigating a short-lived opportunity in Monaco, Sienna demonstrates the importance of trusting your instincts and making bold decisions that align with your long-term goals. Her transition into the LA scene, including joining Ballet Red, marked a pivotal shift into the professional world and set the foundation for her evolving career.Throughout the conversation, Sienna emphasizes the power of self-advocacy, networking, and consistency. She shares how introducing herself in rooms, building genuine relationships, and staying visible have directly led to opportunities. A standout mindset she lives by is her “24-hour rule” for handling rejection—allowing herself time to process before moving forward with clarity and focus. She also speaks on the importance of versatility, expanding into acting and performance, and developing multiple skill sets to remain competitive in a fast-paced industry.The episode also explores preparation and personal branding. Sienna discusses how having strong materials—reels, a professional website, and a clear online presence—helped her enter the LA market with confidence. She reflects on mentorship through Business of Dance, landing brand deals, and learning to confidently negotiate her worth. Ultimately, her story reinforces that success in dance goes beyond talent—it requires ownership, resilience, and strong relationships. Her message is clear: the dancers who take initiative and build connections are the ones who create lasting careers.Shownotes:0:01 – Introduction and Sienna Morris full-circle journey2:57 – Mentorship experience and early career reflections 4:05 – Early training and choosing dance path 6:37 – Monaco opportunity and trusting your instincts 9:42 – Moving to LA and Ballet Red experience 10:22 – Networking, visibility, and self-advocacy 14:12 – Handling rejection with “24-hour rule” 17:45 – Building versatility across dance and acting 18:48 – College path versus going professional early 23:00 – Preparing materials before entering LA market26:44 – Business of Dance impact on branding 30:00 – First brand deal and negotiating value32:20 – Social media strategy and consistency 41:34 – Agents vs self-submissions and ownership49:55 – Relationships matter: contacts equal contractsBiography:Sienna Morris is an LA-based dancer, actor, model, choreographer, and educator whose work blends contemporary ballet with the versatility of today’s entertainment industry. Known for combining the control of classical ballet with the musicality and storytelling of contemporary movement, she moves seamlessly between concert dance, commercial performance, film, and live entertainment.Her credits include work with Halsey, Evanescence, Derek Hough, and Mark Ballas, as well as collaborations with leading creatives such as Marguerite Derricks, Kyle Hanagami, and Chris Scott. She has appeared in campaigns for FP Movement, Gap, and Jo+Jax.A defining milestone in her career was her appearance on the Star Search, expanding her reach to an international audience. Most recently, she served as associate choreographer on My Boyfriend Is a Demon, continuing to grow her work in choreography, movement direction, and film.Alongside performing, Sienna teaches, choreographs, and mentors the next generation while building a career centered on proving that contemporary ballet can thrive within commercial entertainment and mainstream media.Connect on Social MediaWebsite: www.Sienna-morris.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sisimorris/