Meet Jessica Franco | Dancer, Choreographer, & Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Franco and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
Movement, deep connection, and discovery really fill me up!

When my body is in motion, I am able to get out of my head and connect with my feelings and instincts. I’m able to release blocks, limiting beliefs, or anxious thoughts, while becoming deeply present and aware of one moment to the next allowing me to connect to myself and my surroundings.

I am a very curious person, and I am fascinated to learn about what makes someone tick. I love seeing people deeply. Not everyone wants to be seen deeply. It’s a very vulnerable experience, so when someone allows me to gently be curious to understand them and their point of view, it feels like a true gift when someone feels safe enough with me to let me see into them.

Discovery goes right along with my curiosity. I love even the simplest novelty of taking a new route to work or going to a different grocery store location. Something about the newness allows me to feel present and alive. I love trying new things, and scary things, because I’m nudged to the other side of my comfort zone into vulnerable territory, where discovery can be liberating and terrifying all at once.

I highly value growing and expanding my humanity and my artistry. Movement, deep connection, and discovery allow me to dive deep into my craft and even deeper into myself!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a Dancer, Choreographer, and Actor with a degree in Psychology. I’ve always been in love with expressing stories and understanding human beings and what shapes up to be the people we are in each moment. What sets me apart is my deep interest in connecting to myself and others by sharing the story of the music, of the movement, of the show. I am a highly sensitive and empathic artist with a lot of love to give. That can always been seen in my work, and I continue to walk to line of bravery to show up more and more vulnerably with every experience and opportunity to create and share through my work.

I am most proud of my perseverance to continue to pursue this art! It has not been an easy path to get to this point in my career. I have taken many unintentional pauses throughout the journey, but I always come back to dance and art because I can’t live without it. I am so proud to have danced on The Honeymoon World Tour with Ariana Grande and to have been the Assistant Choreographer on her Dangerous Woman Tour. I’ve had the chance to dance for so many incredible artists on stages around the nation and internationally, but those two experiences truly changed my perception on how dance, music, live performances, and art can influence a culture and connect us all!

I want to world to know that art is here to allow us to feel seen, to allow us to begin conversations, to allow us to play, and to allow us to release the things that have been holding us down. Art, movement, and stories are all here to connect us.

Expression is a gift, and we can do it with love first!

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?
I have family visiting this summer, so here are some fun places I might take them!

My nieces are very excited to visit Disneyland and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios. Both of those places need no further reinforcement. They are magical, especially while seeing it through the eyes of children!

My favorite spot for a good strong coffee is Red Window in Studio City. It’s a teeny tiny building with a bold red window on Ventura Blvd, and the coffee is dark, rich, and glorious to my taste buds.

Aroma Coffee and Tea Co is my favorite spot for brunch. They have the cutest outdoor seating, and the food is always wonderful and comforting. Plus there is a park within walking distance in the neighborhood behind, which might be fun for the kids to run around after a good meal!

There will be a beach day in there somewhere. I love driving up to El Matador beach in Malibu. It’s a fun car ride, the view at the beach is beautiful, and it’s not usually too crowded.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to all of my teachers throughout my life, whose passions lit them up so fully and allowed them to see the things that light me up so fully too.

Shoutout to my parents and family for gifting me with incredible opportunities to gain life experiences, to train, to travel, to be exposed to what is possible through art, passion, and determination.

Shoutout to my chosen friends and family who support me through this beautiful journey of exceptional successes and valuable life lessons.

Shoutout to all of the artists living their truest passions allowing me to be expanded to see to believe that a life of art is essential for sharing stories, allowing people to feel seen, creating conversations, and creating a safe space to feel deeply!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessifranks/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-franco-5b29b624/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heryeal227/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGTSN8Hb-g2u_YXJ5dnUbZg