Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Franco.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a dancer from Bucks County, PA. I grew up dancing at a local dance studio, performing at competitions, and traveling to dance conventions. I often traveled to NYC with my mom to dance at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway when I had a day off from school.
I started college at the University of Maryland, working towards a degree in Biology, and I quickly realized that dance needed to be a part of my life. I transferred to Marymount Manhattan College my sophomore year, so I could live in New York City, dance outside of school, and earn my degree in Psychology at the same time. After graduating with my degree, I worked at Broadway Dance Center and danced as much as I could in a contemporary dance company and a hip hop company.
In 2010, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue the commercial industry of dance. I was unprepared for the vast differences in values in LA compared to NYC. It took me a few years to find my footing and to find my groove in this industry. I found a contemporary dance company here that was deeply fulfilling in terms of the work and the community. I finally felt like I’d found a home.
My best friends and old roommates from NYC, Brian and Scott Nicholson, were dancing with Ariana Grande when they were asked to choreograph for her for the first time for a summer festival. They brought me on to assist them and to work as her stand-in as they prepped for the job. A few months later, they called me back in perform as a dancer on Ariana’s Honeymoon World Tour. It was an absolute dream. Together, we went on to continue to collaborate on the Dangerous Woman World Tour, where I was brought on as the assistant choreographer. Joyfully, we’ve created many magical performances together that have deeply shaped the person I am today.
Thankfully, over the years, I have had the privilege of continuing to collaborate with many creative artists, choreographers, and friends as a performer or assistant choreographer for tours, award shows, late night tv shows, music videos, music festivals like Coachella, and most recently assisting Dominique Kelley to create the opening number for Usher’s Vegas Residency.
I love this job as a dancer, performer, and creator. I’m deeply grateful to be living in this industry and collaborating with people, artists, and opportunities that continue to expand me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been a bumpy one. On my second day in LA, I had a meeting with a dance agency. I thought the meeting was an invitation to join the agency. During that meeting, I was told that I’d never work in Los Angeles because of how I looked. At the time, there was a standard of beauty in LA. If you didn’t meet that standard, there was no room for you. It took me a few years to find my authentic expression of self here in this industry.
Gratefully, the industry has opened to welcome, embrace, and celebrate the individual rather than being limited to desiring only one standard look. It has been a joy to see the growth of the industry alongside the growth of the world.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a dancer and choreographer in Los Angeles.
Most often, I work with music artists bringing performances to life as a dancer or as a choreographer.
I am most proud of my persistence to continue to pursue my passion in this industry and my authenticity. I’ve had the privilege to work with many creatives and artists that have deeply shaped my experiences, values, and taste all while accepting my joy, my point of view, my talents, and my energy.
What sets me apart from others might be my joy and my compassion. To me, one’s humanity always enters the room first. We certainly have a job to do, and it’s incredibly important to acknowledge the human part of those in the room first before diving into pulling out the artistry.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was full of energy. It was really hard to get me to sit still. I was always dancing or running around outside. I showed a big love for animals early on, and I fell in love with science and math. I loved learning, which is still true of me to this day. I loved singing and music. I played the cello and clarinet. My parents took my sisters and I to see Broadway shows, and I fell in love with storytelling. I was definitely a little more hyper-vigilant as a teenager as a way to calm some of my anxiety or excess energy. I was very diligent in school as education and learning were, and still are, important to me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessifranks/
