Meet Gwendolyn Jones | Dancer and Choreographer

We had a good fortune of connecting with 15-year-old dancer and choreographer Gwendolyn Jones, and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gwendolyn, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Definitely my work ethic. I have always made it a personal goal to work hard and push myself to reach my full potential. It doesn’t matter if I’m tired, energetic, or bored, showing up and giving my best is non negotiable.

The second habit that’s been huge for me is consistency. I take classes every single day with as many different teachers and choreographers as I can, because being well-rounded is very important to me. Ever since I was 10 years old I would train in my home studio from morning to night in every style, program, and opportunity I could find.

Eventually, my parents saw how committed I was, and they decided to move our family to Los Angeles to pursue my dream. That is why I’m so dedicated. My parents made sacrifices for me to be here, and I will do everything in my power to thrive and be successful.

In the end, if you’re willing to work hard, stay consistent, and never lose your drive, I believe you can achieve anything.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started dancing seriously when I was 10 years old—right when COVID hit. While the world shut down, I used that time to dive into dance through online programs and train as much as I could. I was dancing every single day, sometimes all day, just trying to grow and improve.

My journey really changed when my mom submitted me for the Junior Jam Squad, an NBA dance team for the Golden State Warriors. I auditioned on Zoom, and it was my first real audition ever. I made it to the final round, where we performed live on stage for judges and a full audience. I’ll never forget the moment I found out I made the team. It was also the year the Warriors won the championship, and I got to perform in their victory parade!

At 12, I signed with McDonald Selznick Associates Agency and quickly booked my first professional job on a Disney+ show called The Clauses. It was my first time working in LA.

Eventually, my parents moved me to Los Angeles so I could train more seriously. I trained at TheCREW dance studio, and then began to train independently. I committed to hours of practice every single day, pushing myself to be better.

Shortly after moving to LA, I went through a tough injury that took me out of dance for three months. It made me even more motivated to return stronger.

I later joined Hannah Gallagher’s HMG Company and Alexander and Jasmine Chung’s Kore Academy. I’ve had the amazing opportunity to assist and learn from choreographers like Kelly Sweeney, Alexander Chung, and Hannah Gallagher, experiences that have shaped both my technique and my professionalism.

This past year, I’ve focused on connections, training and building my social media. I’ve been fortunate to book The Clauses, The Neighborhood on CBS and music videos for Liamani and Sacha Carlson.

Recently, I was given the chance to teach classes at Millennium Dance Complex and PlaygroundLA. I also choreographed a dance for Kiya Barczyszyn’s new song. Teaching allows me to give back to the dance community and build something meaningful while hoping to inspire younger dancers.

But getting here hasn’t been easy. I’ve made sacrifices, and I’ve faced both physical and mental challenges. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that dance is more mental than people realize. Over the years, I’ve trained myself to stay sharp under pressure, to be mentally present, and to not let distractions throw me off.

My future goals are to choreograph for artists, book a world tour, and travel the world doing what I love.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Here are some of my favorite things to do in LA!

Breakfast: lemonade and queen avocado toast from La La Land Kind Café- best way to start off the day.

The Americana at Brand for shopping at some of my favorite stores.

Arts and crafts store for some fun crafts at home while watching a movie.

Dessert: Try the skillet cookie at Chili’s, because skillet cookies are life.

Don’t forget to take some dance classes at the iconic Millennium Dance Complex and PlaygroundLA

Beach day: Grab some açai bowls from “Whata Peach” and head out to Santa Monica Beach for some fun beach time.

Drive in movie night with candy and friends.

Thrift shopping on melrose. I love Wasteland!

Disneyland for fun rides and Disney pretzels!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a big shoutout to my mentor, Kelly Sweeney. She was the first person who really saw something in me and pushed me to grow into a better version of myself—not just as a dancer, but as a person. Assisting her classes has been such an amazing experience, and I’ve learned so much from being around her.

I also want to thank my manager, Shanelle Gray Faulkner. She believes in me, helps me navigate the industry, and supports me in every way—she’s truly the best.

And of course, I’m beyond thankful for my family. My mom has flown back and forth from San Francisco to L.A. every single week for the past 3 years just so I can be here training, and my dad is the one who takes me everywhere while she’s gone. None of this would be possible without them. And my little brother has made big sacrifices too, and I’m so grateful for them.

Instagram: @Gwendolynsorel

Youtube: @Gwendolynsorel

Other: TikTok. @Gwendolyn.Sorel

Image Credits
Monsee
IG @monseeworld