Today we’d like to introduce you to Janelle Ginestra.
Hi Janelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, I’m Janelle Ginestra, dancer, choreographer, creative director, and entrepreneur. My life revolves around all things movement. I love the feeling of freedom and expression. I really enjoy traveling and seeing different parts of the world – being able to witness and indulge in other cultures, traditions, religions, and ways of life. BUT, I equally love staying home for chunks of time and watching Netflix with my cat on my chest. I am simple, yet complex.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh man….. many, many struggles and a lot of lessons.
Becoming a professional dancer before social media was the work. Audition after audition after audition- NO after NO after NO. You didn’t have your OWN name or your OWN Brand. You had to earn your spot in person and fight. It was a struggle to get on those dream jobs so it was really effing rewarding when you did. I gave my time, mentorship, and soul to a company that was ripped from under me. I was publicly humiliated & betrayed. I had to pick myself up out of the ashes and build myself a new sense of identity, way of living. I had to build a new life & I DID. I found out just how strong I am and who I am really meant to be.
I still struggle with self-doubt and feeling like everything I do and create can be better. I want to be working and booking choreography jobs that allow me to show my artistic capabilities but I am patient and believe in my work and worth so I wait for the right ones. I stay ready and stay working on my shit.
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’m the CEO and creator of Naughty Girl Fitness and Co-Creator of Let’s Cheer Up, these are both online fitness subscription services. My career in dance began at the age of two, so I can safely say I have always been called to the art of movement and expression.
I’ve had the chance to tour with musicians, do music videos that became viral successes, booked TV shows- but nothing was more rewarding than my own choreography and the ability to create my own environment and art. So, I followed that inner voice, and for over the last decade, I have been devoted to creating my own environments.
I can tell readers what I do is hard work and if you are willing to put in that work, you too can achieve those dreams and goals for yourself. As an artist and creator I stay as authentic to myself as I can. I think that I am unafraid of what others think or say. I aim to create art through dance and movement that showcases humanity. I don’t replicate any formula I’ve seen but just allow myself to do whatever the hell I feel. Whether it’s received or not by the world or my peers, I still release it; it makes more room for other ideas to seep in.
Like Chance the Rapper said, “Do you like your art?” If you said “YES” then that’s “all that matters”.
How do you define success?
Success to me is peace and happiness. I have booked the jobs, visited the places I’ve imagined and obtained many of the things I wanted. I have been VERY blessed. But all these things are meaningless without that. If I don’t move or function in life with peace and happiness, then NONE OF THIS SHIT MATTERS. It’s all a fabrication. Everyday I want to feel that wholeness, authenticity, and yummyness from within. And while I am here doing my work on this earth, I am doing my job if I am making others feel that way too.
Contact Info:
- Website: JanelleGinestraOfficial.com
- Instagram: @janelleginestra
- TikTok: @janelleginestra
- Youtube: MissJanelleG
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