Meet Jada Walker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jada Walker.

Jada, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Well, I was three at my older sister’s graduation party, and we were doing the cupid shuffle, and my parents noticed how fast I picked up the steps and then decided to put me into dance. Once they put me in dance, my studio at the time called Dancing Divas with instructor Carla Silvani did the Martin Luther King Jr. parade in Downtown Houston (which is where I’m from) in 2004.

All of a sudden, the audience was talking about this little girl that was killing it, and my mom didn’t think twice about me until she turned around and was like, “That’s my baby.” So from then on, I moved to Kids N’ Dance with instructor Darlette Bailey (same dance instructor as Beyonce) 2005-now. To my school, a district dance company called Aldine Dance Company was instructed by Sarita Salinas. At this particular studio, I learned everything from aerial silks to walking on stilts from 2007-2014. While doing this, I was a part of an all young African American ladies dance company called Urban Kids, as instructed by Walter Hull and Harrison Guy from 2010-2013; this was were I primarily learned my modern and Horton technique. After that, I moved into my high school years, where I attend Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual under the instruction of Jaine Carothers, Courtney Jones, and many other incredible instructors. While I did dance at school, I also attend a studio where I did dance competitions and conventions. The studio is called DanceZone, instructed by Sheila Milner.

At this studio achieved some of my highest accomplishments. Just to name a few: I won High School Dancer of The Year x2 at West Coast Dance Explosion and winning $900 towards a college scholarship. Monsters of HIpHop XV Cast 2018, Intrigue Dance Convention Assitant 2016-2017, Tremaine Dance Convention Senior Female Dancer of the Year 2018-2019, Radix Dance Convention Senior Female Core Performer National Winner 2020-2021, University of Southern California Glorya Kaufman School Of Dance Class of 2023.

These are some of the biggest goals I set for myself, and I was lucky to achieve them. But I was only able to do it with the constant push of my teachers, dance friends, and parents who sacrificed so much for me to travel with these conventions so I could reach those goals. And I am forever grateful for them. And I will always make them proud we as a family have been through so much with deaths of members that are close to us, especially when my niece lost her dad due to him being murdered. I had to take responsibility and be there for my sister and watch my niece when she needed to do things to make sure they were okay. Death has impacted my life a lot because I lost so many people that I thought were going to be here with me to see me graduate from college who are now no longer here. Death has taught me to cherish the moments I have because you don’t know when it will be the last. So I give my all in everything that I do. So all of these things, emotions, and people have made me who I am today.

Has it been a smooth road?
No, it has not been a smooth road. I struggled/struggle with self-confidence and self-worth. I’m always so worried about what people think about me and how they perceive me instead of being comfortable with who I am and saying they either like me or don’t. Because of quarantine, I am starting to grow into the person I’ve always wanted to become. Meaning tapping into who I am spiritually, mentally, physically, and being more in touch with my internal happiness.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Well, I am a dancer in college right now attend the prestigious University of Southern California Glorya Kaufman School Of Dance. Right now, everything we do is Concert dance base, and I love that. But I also aspire to be a Professional Commercial Dancer and a Professional Company Dancer when the time permits. Commercial Dance holds a special place in my heart because I love the camera and feel the energy from dancing behind an artist like Chris Brown, Snoh Alegra, and or Beyonce. Just being able to share that energy would be everything to me. I feel what sets me apart is how versatile I am. Meaning if you need me to do HipHop, I can do it, and the next scene a ballerina in pointe shoes. I can do that too—also, my ability to dabble into other forms like a makeup artist. I love to do makeup, and my technique as improved so much over the years. I hope to one day do a music video where I dance and do makeup and style.

Is our city a right place to do what you do?
Los Angeles is the city for Commercial Dance. There are agencies out there, not mention the opportunity to work with celebrities and get your name out there. It is the land of opportunity. I would recommend starting in a place where you feel safe and can grow at like for me it was Houston, Texas-born and raised. It helped me being a place where I was allowed to grow and find myself so that no one could tell me who I am and what I couldn’t do.

Contact Info:

• Address: 12323 May Laurel Dr. Houston, Texas 77014
• Phone: 8323539487
• Email: jadawalker1211@gmail.com
• Instagram: @jadaa.walker
• Facebook: Jada Walker
• Twitter: @jadaawalker

Image Credit:
Lee Gumbs @leegumbsphotography on Instagram

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