Conversations with Jasmine Lopez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Lopez.

Hi Jasmine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I started dancing when I was three years old. It wasn’t an activity I enjoyed doing at that time which led my parents to let me stop for a while. At six years old, my dancing journey really began. I started dancing with Chelsea Howell, who later founded The Children’s Ballet Theatre (CBT). While at CBT, I took classes, performed in the Nutcracker for seven years, and danced with their company for five years.

Being a part of the company team provided me with numerous beneficial opportunities: serving my community, more performance experience, participation in intensives, dance boot camp trainings, as well as further development and training at dance festivals through the Tennessee Association of Dance. Notable parts of the entire process were learning to be a good leader among my peers, acquiring great skills of responsibility, maturity, and developing interviewing skills at a young age. Piano has also been a major part of my life from the time I was six. My two older brothers, Daniel and Antonio, began taking lessons from a well-accomplished instructor, Mrs. Tricia Wakefield, a few years before I began. I studied with her for seven years. This included bi-yearly recitals and occasional community service at assisted living facilities.

Later on I knew I wanted to be an actress. After pestering my parents for many years to help me begin training in acting, we started hunting for places and stumbled upon the Christian Youth Theatre CYT. I was with them for about two years, and through them, I learned different skills, such as improv, singing, and acting. While performing in one of their musicals, “She Loves Me”, I was honored to be given the role of dance captain. It was the first time ever that a dance captain was given a curtain call. My time at CYT also led me on a journey to improve my singing and opened new creative ideas and talents.

Nowadays, with the skills I’ve acquired through the years, I’ve branched out on my own. I’m building a good foundation for my career. Most of my new presence on social media I’ve done myself. Although, when lacking knowledge in something, I do ask former teachers, peers, the web, and YouTube. Sometimes, I just need feedback.

For a time, I was using Backstage to book jobs and get more experience behind the screen. I realized that saying how much experience I had on my cover letter and resume was not enough to get booked. I reached out to Kerosene Productions. I met the director, Mrs. Allison, at a summer acting camp I attended at Belmont University in June of 2022. I would have never guessed four months later I’d email her inquiring if her services offered dance reels. Fortunately, she did.

I worked with Mrs. Allison and Mr. Josh, to create my dance reels on pointe, ballet, modern, and hip-hop throughout Nashville. I am very much grateful for all I have acquired during my years of training. In my past and current projects, I incorporated what I learned. I give all the glory to my Heavenly Father who has gifted me with gifts, talents, and His everlasting love and patience.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road for me. One of the challenges I’ve faced is having self-confidence, because I have grown up in environments where you must be “perfect” in everything you do. Also, I am learning to be content where I am in my life today.

Being an independent artist, it’s difficult when I can’t keep moving forward on projects because of my lack of knowledge or skills. I can only do so much on my own; oftentimes, I need others to help me in my journey.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As an upcoming actress and artist, my goal is to find opportunities for creativity in the spaces I have been given.

Sharing what I have to offer is important to me, so those who accept it take away something beautiful in their own eyes. I am best known as a performer who dances, acts and sings.

Recently, I have ventured into modeling. What sets me apart is that I am a Christian. I know God has called me to act, sing, dance, and model, for His plans and purposes. No one is like me. The doors that will open before me I believe no one else can fulfill.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Well, since I am in the same boat as those starting out, I would say find good connections and people who can support you. There are many highs and lows throughout this journey.  Finding good friendships or mentors is the key to a solid foundation. Be grounded, be uncompromising and be confident in your morals and what you believe. Whether you are young or old, saying no to anything that contradicts your beliefs is best.

Research the people you will work with they are more than titles employing you for a job, they are people who have history, emotions, thoughts, and messages they want to share with the world and you have the opportunity to help them accomplish their vision. Keep practicing what you know at some point an opportunity will arise and you want to be as prepared as possible.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @jasmine.lo1112
• Other: https://withkoji.com/creator 

Image Credits
Madalyn Spicer