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

Chazmin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

Yes, I would love to! My first job was two years ago in November of 2021. I was well into my shift at Sonic, and I received a text from Natalie Aaron saying “Hey, I got a job with a big artist I want to submit you for, send a headshot!” So of course I sent my headshot in. Once I finished my shift, I head to my car and Natalie texts me back saying I booked the job, and I was so happy! A big thank you to Natalie for helping me book my first big girl job! When she later revealed that it would be Lil Durk and Morgan Wallen, I was ecstatic.
Fast forward to shoot day, we arrived to Jason Aldean’s bar on Broadway. Keep in mind, I was 19 at the time so I was excited to finally be at a bar on Broadway, but also was laughing at it because if I wasn’t there for a music video, I wouldn’t be able to be in the bar at all. Due to the contracts we signed, we weren’t allowed to bring our phones with us, and that just put things into perspective with how much of a big deal it was. Shortly after we arrived, we see Lil Durk and Morgan Wallen shooting a scene and I immediately say under my breath, “That is really Lil Durk in the flesh!” It was a big LOL moment, but that’s when it really started to settle in my mind that I landed this as my first job in the industry.

While shooting the music video, I worked my booty butt off! My mindset and goals throughout the shoot were making sure I was seen by the camera, going full out, and having a very confident energy to make sure I was seen in every take because you never know which take they’re going to use. You never want to look at a video post-production, and see that they used a take that you messed up on, so I really had to be hungry and work for the shots I got!

We, the dancers, got to take turns freestyling on an operating mechanic bull, and that was so much fun and a great challenge on the spot! If you remember the shot at the beginning of the video when Lil Durk walks into the bar, and see the girl who’s riding the bull, it was me! Towards the end of the shoot day which was about 6 hours, they needed a dancer who already signed the mechanic bull and I was the only one who raised their hand to do it because why not? I couldn’t pass up another cool opportunity! Being there made me so hungry, and eager to keep working hard so I can be prepared for when more opportunities like that music video comes along.

Both Lil Durk and Morgan Wallen were really cool and laid back, which made the night very easy to dance next to them and be on set with them.

Overall, I was very happy with my first job being that music video. it taught me how to be professional, it taught be how to be hungry and really gun for those top spots in the video, taught me how fun it is to just let go and dance, and it gave me confirmation that this it something I want to do as my 9 to 5 when I grow up.

Chazmin, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started my passion for dancing when I was 2-years-old, dancing and making choreography around the house to the popular songs of the 2000s. Well, my parents also could argue that I started in the womb where my parents put headphones on my mother’s belly and I instantly started moving around! They knew from that moment on that music would have a tremendous impact on my life and career.

I grew up dancing competitively/trained at a few studios in Nashville such as Ridleys, Princicillas, Cathys, Nashville School of Dance and Music learning ballet, tap, contemporary, jazz, and hip hop. I was also captain of Ladies of Echelon, a majorette team in Nashville, and I loved every minute of it! Around 8th grade, I felt like dance was getting too easy for me and I decided to stop dancing and play sports up until I finished high school. I had a change of heart on playing college basketball, and went to college at Austin Peay as a normal student. For the next three months, I struggled with being regular without having to be at a practice or a basketball game and in November of 2020, I had enough. I decided to go to a dance class and the rest was history.

One day it clicked that I want to really pursue being a professional dancer at the highest level and have longevity within my career, so I dropped out of college and began investing my time into training, traveling and training, falling in love with research of dance and it’s mutiple styles and worlds day by day.

Fast forward to this year, I dropped my dance class brand called “Dance Sh*t” in February of 2023 teaching heels classes with the intention of encouraging artists to develop their own uniqueness through movement and dance foundation… in the flyest way possible. Before I rebranded in July, my brand name was originally “Heels Sh*t.” I changed it because I felt like that was placing me in a box, and I plan to open it up to other styles as my training progresses. I then took a step back from teaching to focus on doing a lot of my inner work as a person, training more, and ultimately taking the time to develop the foundation of discipline. I want to make sure I’m giving people my 100% effort when teaching because it’s so much deeper than just teaching choreography. It’s about inspiring others and them feeling your glowing passion for the art of dance. I want anybody wanting to join my space to know that it is a loving, non judgemental, and truthful space.

Ultimately, I think what sets me apart from others is my fire. It is self-ignited which takes some time to master in itself, but it is so much power in that because it is something nobody can take away from you. Once you can self ignite and understand that you are responsible for how far you go, then all there’s left to apply is hard work and action. That is the fun part. If you fall in love with the journey, the top is going to feel so much better once you are there.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I think taking care of your body is the most helpful thing you could do as a dancer. •Stretching before and after practices •Eating healthy
•Exercising
Just to name a a few! A dancer uses their full body for their craft for a long amount of time at a high intensity which is very hard on the body.These help us take care of our bodies for years to come and the reward (i’m sure) will lead to a less accident prone lifestyle.

Another thing that is important is taking care of your mind and spirit. This industry can destroy you at times, have people who you thought were your friends betray you, not get paid enough to endure what you went through, etc. It’s important to know your worth and never settle less for what you deserve.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The most recent lesson I had to unlearn was making excuses for myself. From May to the beginning of this month, I had been in an unmotivated and uncomfortable space within myself and had some things I wanted to change about myself. I was very lazy, and allowed minor things obstruct my essential routines when it comes to advancing my skill.

Now, I’m in a better space mentally and physically so I’m starting to get back on the horse!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/chazzgotjuice?igshid=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg==
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@chazzgotjuice?si=8ebAuOCD0T9Bj7KJ
• Other: Dance Brand Instagram Page https://instagram.com/dancessht?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Image Credits
Joshua Etchison @ufilmme