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More than a dancer: GiaNina Paolantonio’s formula for viral choreography, strategic culture, and creative business
With a resume that spans Broadway, film, reality TV and billions of social views, GiaNina Paolantonio now leads the next generation of choreography, where music, movement and media collide.
- By: Meera Rathod
When GiaNina Paolantonio stepped onto the Broadway stage at age nine, she had no idea it would signal the beginning of a career that now runs deeper than performance, it’s strategy. From her early roles in Matilda the Musical and The Greatest Showman to touring with Mariah Carey and becoming a fan-favorite on Dance Moms, she’s built a foundation rooted in discipline and star-power. Today, with over four million TikTok followers and choreography credits with the likes of J-Lo and Billie Eilish, she’s not just making dances, she’s creating cultural moments.
Before TikTok fame and chart-topping collaborations, GiaNina was already a seasoned performer, and at just nine years old. Her first major role came when she joined the Broadway cast of Matilda the Musical, an experience that she still recalls as the moment everything clicked. “The second that I stepped—what was my first ever show in Matilda—because I was in front of thousands of people, I was like, oh, shit. Like, this is it? This is really cool. I want to do this again.” That spark of realization ignited a trajectory that would take her from the stage to the silver screen, appearing as a principal ballerina in The Greatest Showman and touring alongside Mariah Carey. Each step sharpened her discipline and stage presence while teaching her how to perform for both the front row and the camera lens. Even now, GiaNina credits those early experiences with shaping her fearless approach to performance, cementing a foundation built not just on talent, but on the thrill of connection.
Transitioning from Dance Moms to dancing for millions online, GiaNina turned what could have been a moment of burnout into the fuel for her evolution. “My relationship [with dance] has only gotten stronger,” she says, reflecting on how reality TV fame, and its challenges, shaped her drive. “Although I went through so much on that show, being painted as the villain, I think I came out ten times a better dancer and more eager and hungry.” For GiaNina, Dance Moms wasn’t just a stage, it was a crucible. While others drifted from the spotlight, she transformed scrutiny into motivation, using the experience to refine her artistry and leadership. Now, she commands a following of over four million on TikTok, leading viral movements that bridge generations. “Being able to be in the teaching position where I’m leading millions of people in the new generation—and even my generation—it’s pretty freaking cool,” she adds. What once was reality TV drama has evolved into real-world influence, grounded in grit, reinvention, and an unshakable love for dance.
When it comes to choreographing for pop stars, GiaNina has mastered the balance between instinct and intention. Her creative process starts with a simple rule: if it doesn’t come naturally, it’s not meant to be. “A lot of the time, labels come to me and they’re like, ‘Oh, this artist is throwing out this new song—can you do something to it?’” she explains. “If I can’t do anything to it, then I just don’t work with that artist. You have to be very picky in this industry and keep your brand tight and right.” That selectiveness has become her signature strength. By prioritizing authenticity over opportunity, GiaNina ensures that every routine carries her unmistakable rhythm of fluidity, emotion, and herself. Even when she collaborates with icons like J-Lo or Billie Eilish, her movement language remains consistent: raw energy guided by instinct. “It has to come easily,” she says. “Not easily as in no effort, but easily as in it flows. If it doesn’t, it’s not real.” It’s this intuitive artistry that’s made her choreography both viral and timeless, built not for algorithms, but for feeling.
Going viral isn’t an accident either, it’s an art form built on rhythm, relatability, and precision. GiaNina’s formula blends technical choreography with the kind of energy that feels spontaneous enough to thrive on TikTok’s fast-moving feed. “I think the reason that I’m able to do that is because I teach two different styles,” she explains. “The more TikTok stuff is still technical, but it’s more catchy—and that’s my jazz-fun class. But my contemporary lyrical stuff, which is very technical, goes viral too because it’s pleasing to the eye.” By understanding how audiences consume movement online, She bridges performance and platform, creating work that hits as hard emotionally as it does visually. “You don’t see commercials on TV anymore,” she says. “It’s all ads in between your phone while you’re scrolling.” In that sense, TikTok isn’t just her stage, it’s her distribution model. And while millions imitate her moves, few can match the strategy behind them: dances designed to tell a story, engineered to connect, and choreographed to stick in your head long after the music fades.
What started for GiaNina as choreography has evolved into a full-fledged business, one that merges movement, marketing, and mentorship. “Probably by the third artist class I taught, I was like, holy shit—they just keep coming in,” she laughs. “That’s when I realized this had really become a whole business.” Her work now sits at the crossroads of creativity and commerce, fueling campaigns, reviving forgotten hits, and influencing pop culture at scale. Still, she’s careful to stay grounded. Between choreographing for stars and crafting her own music, she’s learning the delicate balance of passion and purpose. “Splitting up your time between work and just being a normal person is the trickiest thing ever,” she admits. But as she looks ahead, to her debut music, to teaching worldwide, to shaping the next era of pop performance, her vision is clear. “I want to create something that means so much to me, something I can dance to,” she says. “I’m building this world where my music and my movement live together.” For GiaNina, the future isn’t just about going viral, it’s about leaving a lasting mark.
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