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

Hi Shawnta’, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Because it’s the only path that gives me the ability to operate as my HIGHEST SELF. Who I’m meant to be. What I’m meant to do and who I’m meant to impact. As a young child I was diagnosed with ADHD. My mother refused to put me on meds and put me in dance classes instead. It was the only space where I truly felt like myself & accepted. At 14 I got accepted into Las Vegas Academy Performing Arts High School where I majored in dance. It was then that I discovered & knew I was meant to change the World & change lives through movement. Nothing makes me happier than seeing another person discover the artistry & beauty in themselves through moving their body and sometimes in a way they didn’t even think was possible.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It’s a Vegas Experience put into a Dance Fitness Workout. No City creates experiences better than Las Vegas & I’ve created a way for people to come to my hometown and do exactly what they would do at 1:00am at the most lit Club on The Strip except we do it at 11:00am and it’s the GREATEST DAMN experience you’ll ever have while working out! I’m most excited to begin touring & offering this experience ALL OVER THE WORLD! My 2nd US Tour will kick off January 2023! I got to where I am professionally by always being hungry to learn & grow. Was it easy? Nothing will ever be easy. That’s just facts. But I overcame my challenges because I have the hunger to be better. You cannot go further than where you are in life if you aren’t ready & willing to BE BETTER. I feel like the lesson is very simple when it comes to HOW you do that. DO THE WORK. When that idea or thing doesn’t work. It doesn’t mean it was a failure, THAT way just didn’t work. Try it again but get better, learn more and the most important part, Do THE WORK…..AGAIN. I want The World to know that I’m just a little black girl from the West Side projects of Las Vegas that God gave a really big dream to. He saved my life through fitness and it’s my mission to do the same.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well as a Las Vegas Native, let’s take it OFF The Strip for food.

BEST VEGAS FOOD(not on The Strip)
– Pizza| Villa Pizza

-Southern| Mama Birds

=BBQ| Smoke & Fire

-Breakfast & Brunch| Baby Stacks

-Mexican| Juan’s Flaming Fajitas

-Burgers| Pandoras Burgers

-Steak| Herb’s & Rye

-Seafood| The Oyster Bar (Palace Station)

RECOMMENDED STRIP FOOD EXPERIENCE(great group outing)
-La Cave Brunch Buffet @The Wynn

PLACES TO VISIT & THINGS TO SEE
– AREA 15
-Neon Boneyard
-Downtown Las Vegas| The District
-Allegiant Stadium
-Crystal Palace Skating Rink
-Cinebarre (Movie Theatre)
-The Smith’s Center
– ANY Cirque Show
-Every hotel/casino on The Strip has something special about it. Choose the ones you’ve been excited to experience & check them out.

When it comes to drinks, I’m not your girl. Not much of a drinker. In Vegas, you can’t go wrong in most places. Best drinking EXPERIENCES will definitely be found on our amazing Las Vegas Strip.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
None of this would be possible without the support of my amazing dance fitness community in Las Vegas! Some of them have been with me since day one and there’s always so many new and amazing faces joining me in class, online & now all over the US who joined me for my very first Twerk n’ Tone Dance Fitness Tour.

A day one who definitely deserves their own ShoutOut is, Krystle Anttonelli. She has always believed in my vision & has supported me through every chapter of it’s evolution.

Website: www.iambodybyshawnta.com

Instagram: @bodybyshawnta

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb1Z9MYia7vHlNEi4e2_aGw

Other: TikTok: @bodybyshawnta

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