We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Madeline Massingill. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Madeline below.

Madeline , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I was so lucky to have a Mom who worked in the arts as a dancer and then owned her own dance studio and that was how she made her living so I never had any doubts that I could do the same. Creating and performing art is truly the only thing I can envision myself doing. Put me behind a desk and I’m toast. Give me some music to dance to and that’s a whole different story.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Right out of high school I pursued a career in the dance industry. I auditioned to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and on the 2nd try I made it happen. I Cheered for 5 years. After living out that dream I made the move to Los Angeles, I always knew this was the city I wanted to end up in. I got an agent for dance and social media. I get to perform with artist, dance in music videos and act here in LA and I love it. I was recently hired at Pepperdine University as the cheer coach and I also just got my own class teaching at Millennium Dance Complex (this was one of little Maddie’s dreams for sure) I choreograph for studios, universities and professional teams around the world. (Just recently had the opportunity to teach in Melbourne and Sydney and it was a dream.) I get to work one on one with people trying to make their dream teams and I truly love what I do which I know isn’t a given and is a huge gift.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This isn’t a specific to dance resource. The story is a universal one but feels wildly specific when you read it. I try to re-read it every year and I am constantly floored at the message and how relevant it is each time I read it. Any artist looking to reach their full potential or make a dream they have had on their heart their whole life this book is a must.❤️

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I auditioned to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader at 18 and made it to their training camp where I had to move from Utah (where I grew up) to Dallas. I auditioned Mid may, found out I had to move, went back to Utah to graduate high school and 2 days later did a caravan situation with my parents to Dallas (a long drive) I lived with a family friends friend that I didn’t know for the summer and was going through a really tough training camp while also being away from home for the first time. It was rough to say the least and it was all being captured to later be aired on international television. I was so overwhelmed by it all it completely dimmed any good quality I had as a performer or person probably. I got cut and went home to Utah. Wallowed for about a month and then decided I wanted to try again. I worked on my mindset and self worth a ton that In-between year and ended up making the team at 19, then went on to be a leader 3 of my 5 years and get opportunities that were life changing and made memories to last a lifetime. Pure magic and a lot of hard work.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Madeline_massingill