We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Diaunte Jenkins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Diaunte below.

Diaunte, appreciate you joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

The very first professional penny I was able to make in this industry was back in high school from Lifetime Network and Pilgrim Studios. By the grace of God, I was able to be casted on “Step It Up” which was an 8 episode docu-series focused on the Young Contemporary Dance Theatre also known as YCDT. I can/t help but to thank and shout out my former teacher the amazing Mrs. Traci Young-Byron who is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Company. It was truly a great filling being able to say that my first check as an artist was to do what I love which is acting and dancing but this time on national television.

Certainly, this happened during my 10th grade year at Miami Northwestern Sr. High and my 3rd season of being in the company. After rounds of interviews, I was selected along with 3 amazing co-stars to be one of the main cast individuals and since then life was different. Personally, it was a moment of realization that dreams can for sure come true. I had always said while in my adolescent days, that I would someday want to be a star on a reality tv show or just a show in general and God saw fit for it to happen at that moment. Since that day, I realized that the tongue is a very powerful tool and that whatever is for me will always be for me and no one else.

Diaunte, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

For those who don’t know, I am Diaunte J, an entertainer, dancer, educator, choreographer, and a proud product of Liberty City. I began dancing, singing, and acting at an early age at my home church in Miami, Fl. When looking at how far I’ve come since I started looking at my gifts as a career rather than hobbies, I’d like to say I received my talent from my mother’s side of the family and my scholastic intellect from my father’s side.

My passion for the Performing Arts began at the tender age of thirteen years old. I began my Professional Training in Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Ballet, West African and Modern with the Young Contemporary Dance Theatre. My four years there equipped me to be ready to take on this dog-eat-dog world of the Industry. I was molded to have an unorthodox way of thinking, training, dancing, and creating in which is reflected through my unique style that I have now.

As I stated in a recent interview with Shoutout Miami, I know my story, passion, and drive is what sets me apart from others in my field. Certainly, I will continue to stand firm on the affirmation that you can do and be whatever you put your mind to. Once you believe in yourself and pray about every decision and opportunity given, you will succeed without a doubt. My creative ability and God given talents gracefully placed me where I am today. Furthermore, my village of friends and family, and their continuous support pushes and motivates me to be my best self. I believe at this point in life, I am truly most proud of my ability to live for myself, my success, my decision to trust God in the process and the influence I realized a naturally fostered due to the positions I am always placed in.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from myself is to trust the process and bring forth all ideas, plans and opportunities to God before making my own choices. During my last semester of college, I was set on moving to Las Vegas, Nevada because I personally always said I would never move back home once I received my degree from the University of Florida. However, I was put in a place where I was forced to sit down and just let God take the wheel over my life and decisions. During the time of me wanting to move to Vegas, I was applying for jobs, looking for housing and trying to set up everything before the time came for me to relocate. Certainly, I was feeling like I was forcing a journey that was not for me at the moment. During my last semester, I had auditioned for two professional companies and got denied from both, applied for several jobs everywhere but in Miami, and kept getting denied from everything, including apartment approvals. Once I realized that I had never experienced so much denial or difficulty with making a move, I had to sit back and re-evaluate my decisions. It was at that moment when I realized that the plans, I had for myself were clearly not the correct plans created for me at that moment and I had to pivot tremendously.

Making the final decision to move back to Miami after graduation was a major pivotal moment because I was literally going home with no plan in place to move forward with. It was not until I began to sit still and pray more that I realized that moving back to Miami, was the best decision I had made in that moment simply because everything was falling in place naturally in which was contrary to what was happening before. The main lesson I learned and love to share with others is to never be married to a plan that you create without praying about it and receiving that confirmation first. When you realized that you are going through more trials in a process then you usually do, then 9 times out of 10, that thing may not genuinely be for you at the moment.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist and a creative is knowing the impact and influence you can have on others just by being your authentic self all the time and the ability to share it with the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.diauntej.org
• Instagram: DiaunteJ
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbWd2A0mxsDiZnxI-XdFD-w

Image Credits
Johnny Wilson III @draculaxproductions