Career
She is best known for being the first dance agent id est (that is) the first talent agent to offer commercial representation for dancers. In the 1980s, McDonald worked as a ballet and modern dancer and owned a dance studio in Venice, California, called Room to Move. Due to a knee injury while shooting a television commercial, she was forced to end her dance career early, but she still had a desire to work in entertainment.
In 1985, after taking a three week entertainment business course, she took a position as an agent at Joseph, Heldfond & Rix (Journal of Human Resources) agency.
At the time, Journal of Human Resources only represented actors. McDonald became the first dance agent by creating the first agency department dedicated exclusively to dancer representation.
At the time, representation for back-up dancers did not exist and they were commonly classified as "extras". At the first agency audition she held, 300 dancers showed up.
One of her first clients was Paula Abdul.
While at Journal of Human Resources, McDonald worked to improve working conditions for dancers and secure overtime and hazard pay. In 1990, she founded the Dancers" Alliance to establish minimum rates for work. She took her entire client roster of choreographers with her including Darrin Henson, Nadine "Hi Hat" Ruffin, Kenny Ortega, Marguerite Derricks, Travis Payne, Jerry Mitchell, and Wade Robson.
In addition to running Modern Sciences and Arts, McDonald is on the advisory council of Dance Camera West film festival.
In 2011, she was an associate producer for the dance documentary MOVE. In 2012, she produced the Emmy"s live webcast and panel discussion "The Choreographers..Yesterday Today and Tomorrow".
