At just 24 years old, Reese Schwarzentraub is living out the dream she’s had since she first stepped into a dance studio at age three.

Now lighting up the stage at Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce at Mandalay Bay, the Minnesota native has quickly found her place in Las Vegas’ dynamic entertainment scene. With a background that spans competitive dance, college dance teams, and multiple shows on the Strip, Reese brings both technical skill and undeniable stage presence to every performance.

But beyond the spotlight, it’s her deep-rooted love of dance, strong sense of community, and drive to keep evolving that truly set her apart, making her one to watch on and off the stage.

Reese Recalls Her Early Days Of Dance

A love for dance came early in life for Reese who started as a toddler. She credits her older sister as her inspiration.

“Watching her perform on stage at such a young age made me realize it was something I wanted to do too. Once I started dancing, I quickly fell in love with performing,” she told The 702 Vegas exclusively. “Being on stage, under the lights, in front of an audience is something I knew early on that I loved.”

While growing up, Reese trained at a dance studio and was on the dance team in high school and college. She already had some friends dancing professionally in Las Vegas, so when she visited them and saw some shows, she knew it was something she wanted to pursue, saying, “seeing dancers share what they love on stage every night was really inspiring.”

When asked if there is a specific memory that stands out from the early days of her dance journey, Reese shared that it’s the “friendships and the sense of community” that stick out the most for her.

“Late nights at the studio and long competition weekends with my friends were some of the best times,” she said. “Dance was special growing up because you got to do something you loved while building friendships with people who shared the same passion. Many of those friendships have lasted to this day.”

Reese said that the most valuable lesson she’s learned from dance throughout her journey has been “discipline.”

“Dance teaches discipline in so many ways,” she said. “As a performer, no matter what kind of day you’ve had, you still have to step on stage and give your best performance. The audience should never see anything less. It can be challenging, but in a way it’s also taught me how to leave things at the door and focus.”

Being A Professional Dancer In Sin City

Before her current show at Forty Deuce, Reese danced in “X Country” at Harrah’s and “The Empire Strips Back” at the Rio.

One of the things she loves about her current show is the uniqueness of it.

“The stage isn’t your typical stage, and the show isn’t your standard production either,” she said. “When people come to see us, they often don’t know what to expect. I especially love the classic solos along with the group rock show. Each solo is about seven minutes with just you and the audience.”

She further explained that Ivan Kane gives the dancers the freedom to create their character and to “highlight our strengths as dancers.”

“We choreograph the solo ourselves and even get to interact with the crowd,” she continued.

As for the Vegas dance community, Reese said it’s “unlike any I’ve experienced,” with everyone being supportive and wanting everyone to succeed.

“Vegas also allows us to experience each other’s work. We get to go out, watch shows, and support one another’s passions, which makes it really special,” she said, before explaining the hardest part about being a professional dancer in Vegas. “One of the hardest parts is seeing shows close. It’s tough to watch and know that it could happen to any show. Another challenge is staying inspired and continuing to grow as both a person and a performer. It can be easy to get comfortable, but it’s important to keep pushing yourself and not take the opportunity for granted.”

Enjoying Las Vegas And What The Future Holds

When she’s not entertaining on stage, Reese is often enjoying all that Vegas has to offer, including spending time with friends and trying new restaurants around town.

“One of my favorite Vegas activities is trying new restaurants. I love getting dressed up and going out for a great dinner,” she told The 702. “Of course, I also enjoy seeing all the entertainment here and supporting friends who are performing in other shows.”

As far as what the future holds, she hopes to continue dancing and performing and would love to “explore the other side of the industry – choreographing and producing shows.”

Her message to others about being a professional dancer is simple – “dance is truly our passion.”

“We keep pursuing it because we love it so much. It’s not always easy – there’s a lot of rejection and constant pushing – but at the end of the day, we do it because we genuinely love what we do,” she said. “Dance has given me so many opportunities, incredible friendships, and the chance to perform for a living. Being able to do what you love every day is something I never take for granted.”

For more information about Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce, visit their website.