Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Fendley Harvey.
Hi Madison, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For as long as I can remember, whenever someone asked who I am, my answer was always, “Hi, I’m Madison, and I’m a dancer.” It’s been a part of me for as long as I’ve been alive. I started dancing when I was three years old, and by the time I was nine, I knew I wanted to make a career out of it. From then on, my life was a blur of late nights at the studio, weekends spent traveling to competitions and conventions across the country, training under some of the best choreographers in the industry, and performing in a pre-professional ballet company until I graduated high school.
After graduation, I dreamed of moving to New York or L.A. right away, but I didn’t quite feel ready. So, I decided to attend the University of Alabama, where I double majored in Dance and Political Science… because it’s always smart to have a backup plan, right? During my four years there, I received multiple honors and awards, including the Outstanding Freshman Dancer Award, the Lou Wall Award, the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award, and the Outstanding Senior Dancer Award. I was also named the Most Outstanding Sophomore Student of the entire university, which was such an honor.
Once I graduated summa cum laude, I finally packed my bags and moved to New York City. I auditioned constantly- sometimes twice a day- and got told “no” for six straight months. Just as I started to wonder if I’d made the right choice, I booked my first big job: an ensemble dancer for the Netflix series Soundtrack. That job took me to Chicago and completely reignited my fire for performing.
From there, doors started opening. I’ve danced in music videos for Kelsea Ballerini, Brantley Gilbert, and Dierks Bentley, appeared in commercials for Aldo and Bar-S, and performed live with Niykee Heaton and RaeLynn. My longest (and favorite) job to date was The Devil Wears Prada the Musical. I was part of the project from the very beginning, starting with the very first dance labs in 2019, through the COVID shutdown, and finally opening the show for Broadway in Chicago in 2022. I served as both the swing and dance captain, which taught me so much about the production side of the industry and sparked my passion for teaching and choreography.
Shortly after the show closed, I got engaged to my now-husband, Jordan Harvey, and we were married about a year later at a beautiful castle in his hometown in Scotland. After the wedding, we decided to settle down in Nashville. I’d already been splitting time between New York and here for work, so it felt like the perfect fit.
Since moving, I’ve continued teaching and choreographing for studios and companies across the Southeast, and I signed with The Block Agency here in Nashville, which has brought some really fun opportunities, like modeling for Zappos, Cambria Hotels, Wild Iris Boutique, Singer, and NomNom (that one featured my dog, so it was definitely a favorite). I also recently signed with Arista Talent Agency and am excited to see where that partnership leads next. And when I’m not dancing or on set, you can find me teaching spin classes as an instructor at CycleBar Nashville!
For so long, “dancer” was the only word I used to describe myself, and while it will always be a huge part of who I am, it’s not the only part anymore. Today, I define myself as a devoted wife, an overprotective dog mom, a loyal daughter, sister, and friend, a creative in every sense of the word, and a constant work in progress. But no matter where life takes me, dance will always be the heartbeat behind it all.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I would say my career journey has been anything but a smooth road, like most people in the entertainment world can probably relate to. When I first moved to New York, I spent six straight months auditioning and hearing “no.” It was tough, but I learned to reframe it. Instead of wondering why I didn’t get a job, I reminded myself that it was never personal, that I was worthy and capable, but simply not the right fit for that particular project. Shifting my mindset turned rejection into motivation. As a dancer, your mindset can be your biggest obstacle when it’s in a negative place or your most powerful tool when it’s positive.
Another challenge has always been the instability that comes with this career: no set schedule, no guaranteed paycheck. It forces you to be smart about how you manage your time and finances. But honestly, figuring that out has made me more adaptable, balanced, and grounded… not just as a dancer, but as a person.
Here in Nashville, one of the ongoing challenges is the lack of commercial dance opportunities for local performers. A lot of major artists and productions still bring in dancers from New York or L.A., even though we have such an incredibly talented dance community right here. Many of us have those same big-city credits and experience, we just choose to call Nashville home now. I truly hope to see more opportunities open up for Nashville-based dancers, and I’m passionate about helping shine a light on the incredible talent and creativity that already exists here. I really believe that shift is coming… it’s just a matter of time and advocacy.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I feel like some of my earlier answers cover my career, but if I had to pick one thing I’m most proud of, it would be my role as swing and dance captain in The Devil Wears Prada the Musical. Being a swing is one of the hardest, and most underrated, jobs in the business. You have to know multiple tracks inside and out, be ready to jump into the show at a moment’s notice, and do it all with confidence and calmness. It’s stressful, high-pressure, and requires a special kind of focus and adaptability.
One funny story that always comes to mind: during our run, several cast members got COVID, and I ended up having to go on for a track I wasn’t even originally assigned to cover. I had about four hours from the moment I found out until curtain. In that time, I learned all the choreography, traffic patterns, vocal parts, and acting beats for a two-hour musical… and then performed it that night. It was wild, exhausting, and honestly one of the most thrilling experiences of my career.
The role of dance captain also sparked something new in me, I discovered how much I love leadership- the teaching, the precision, the sense of community within a cast. It made me a stronger dancer, a more thoughtful choreographer, and a more intentional teacher.
I think what sets me apart is that I’m equally passionate about performing and educating. I still love being on stage, but I’m just as fulfilled helping the next generation of dancers grow, find their voice, and believe in themselves the way my mentors did for me
What do you like and dislike about the city?
As a girl from the small town of Dothan, Alabama with big dreams of becoming a professional dancer, I always knew I wanted to get out… not just out of my city, but out of the South entirely! I swore I’d move to New York, build a dance career, never get married, never have kids, and definitely never move back down South. But life has a funny way of rewriting your plans.
Nashville wasn’t even on my radar until dance jobs started bringing me here. Then, somewhere along the way, I met the love of my life- Jordan Harvey, a musician, singer, and songwriter from Edinburgh, Scotland. As I fell in love with him in Nashville, I fell in love with the city itself. There’s just something so special about it. You get all the big-city energy: the music, the culture, the endless things to do, but drive ten minutes in any direction and you find that small-town charm again. The southern hospitality here is unmatched, and being only six hours from my hometown and family is the sweetest bonus. Somehow, the city I never planned on became exactly where I was meant to be.
My dislikes would have to be what I talked about in the obstacles question.
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