We recently connected with Jaslyn Harris and have shared our conversation below.
Jaslyn, appreciate you joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
I battled with this question for quite sometime, and if you asked me this back in 2019, I would have answered no. After earning my degree in Modern dance, I suffered from post grad depression for almost two years. All throughout high school and college I was determined to be a successful performer; I mean, you couldn’t tell me that I wouldn’t end up on tour after school; that’s all I dreamt about and it’s all I felt that I’ve been working towards. But shortly after graduation, the performance opportunities I received were more of an upset than a dream come true. Many people contacted me to work for free, or for very low compensation; and their level of professionalism was sub-par. This caused me to develop a love/hate relationship with dance, where eventually I lost the hunger to train and perform. Even worse, I lost myself in the process. All I knew was dance, and all everyone knew about me was dance, but I just could not see how I would create a life of my own in the industry without people taking advantage of my skill set. While in quarantine during the worst part of the pandemic, I would spend hours scrolling job sites for different jobs, or I would search my alma mater’s school catalogue to imagine what area of study I would pursue if it weren’t for dance. I got so wrapped up in others that seemed to be doing much better than me, that I couldn’t help but to wish I was a little more like them. I really struggled with the idea that I made a mistake majoring in dance and choosing it as a career field. I even went as far as studying for the GRE to go for my Master’s degree pre-maturely. Even though I made all of this effort to go into survival mode, there was just something within me that wouldn’t let me go forward with a “Plan B”. For those who may be spiritual, my God wouldn’t allow me to settle in the idea of comfort. My spirit told me to sit, reflect and be still to listen to what he’s telling me. Though my journey is just beginning, I’ve done a lot of work on myself and my relationship with God, that I now understand the purpose/calling on my life. It’s going to be uncomfortable, but the journey is mine. There’s a reason the love for dance and community has been placed in my heart, so I have no choice but to walk in that confidently.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello everyone! It’s truly an honor to have such a platform to connect with the community. My name is Jaslyn Harris, and I am a professional dancer, secretary in film, and the Founder/CEO of MyMovesMoveU LLC. Dance has been in my life for years, where I’ve trained in the church, in local studios, magnet programs, and college. I have a deeply rooted love for music, and I truly believe that dance is my God given outlet to express that love. I enjoy both performing and being hands on in the business/administrative side of the arts. I’ve worked with a few dance companies/organizations using both areas of expertise, and with that experience, it has motivated me to start a business and serve my community in a way that’s uniquely mine. MyMovesMoveU LLC is a brand that offers services such as Pop Up Shops, Pop Up Classes, Private Sessions, Consultations and more. I am most proud of the level of professionalism we strive to maintain when working with different people and organizing events/services within the community. There are a lot of products and services that are offered in this city by very talented people, but many do not understand the importance of professionalism when it comes to carrying out projects or cultivating relationships that can be life changing. I also take pride in being a transparent business owner. I like to motivate people with the truth being my story and my struggle. This journey of entrepreneurship is not an easy one, and I’d like my audience to know that if it’s possible for me, it’s possible for them as well. I find joy in encouraging my community to love themselves by taking one of my classes or coming to my workshops where we prioritize confidence, self love, mental health and meaningful relationships. My brand is much more than just dance; it’s a sense of community that motivates others to keep moving towards their goals the same way I continue to work towards mine.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Last year, my spirit felt called to organize my very first Mental Health Workshop. My expertise does not come from the psychology realm, and I knew that I didn’t have the level of credibility needed to really speak on topics such as therapy and mental disease. But, I had my own challenges with my mental health, and I knew that many in my community struggled with similar battles. This topic has become something extremely serious in our communities, and for those growing up in a culture/household similar to mine, being able to discuss things that you’re battling with is very difficult or in some cases impossible. Though I didn’t have much knowledge in this area, I knew that I was capable of bringing a community together and creating a safe space to have these discussions around mental health and well-being practices. While I worked very hard to organize the event, I dealt with many obstacles behind the scenes leading up to the event, and I also struggled with my mental health during the process. As plans fell through time and time again, it became very difficult to stay motivated. But in that same thought, I realized that it was my testimony. I am dedicated to lead by example, and maintain transparency while on my journey. Through this difficult time, I made it a priority to seek my own therapist and begin my healing journey so that I could continue to do the work. My resiliency comes from knowing that my business and my events aren’t about me. I have been called to serve a community that’s bigger than me. By accepting the help from some amazing people, I was able to host my first annual mental health workshop, known as Mental Moves back in May of this year. I was so fulfilled during this process because I was able to prove to myself that anything is possible. I touched many that day; but I’ve realized that even if I just touch one person, I’ve made a difference. Knowing just that fact, is all I need to keep me Moving.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
The society can definitely improve on supporting creatives by making it a priority to genuinely support. With our community so involved in social media, it can sometimes be easy to go viral and get plenty of exposure to your brand; but the support comes more in the action. When creatives and entrepreneurs plan events or offer services, we greatly appreciate the support of our community when they come out and actually get to know the person behind the brand. We invest countless hours into our craft, and we get a lot of our fulfillment from those that we truly touch, and those that truly invest back into our business. There are countless examples of people claiming to support, but are the first ones to ask for discounts, or only seem intrigued when there’ s a giveaway. Supporting a creative financially lets them know that you believe in their craft beyond the hype. You understand that this is their livelihood; and the same amount of respect that is given to well known and well established businesses should be given to small business owners/creatives as well. Everyone has to start somewhere; and a lot of us start from scratch, so gaining true support from the community and getting exposure to the right people can truly take someone’s brand to higher heights.
MyMovesMoveU LLC is celebrating their 2 year anniversary this month! Be sure to follow them on their site and on social media to see how you can join in on the celebration!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mymovesmoveu.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymovesmoveullc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herecomes.thestorm3
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaslyn-harris-1a144b6a/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY1I8CU1arY
Image Credits
Photography Credits: Daquan Williams Brandon Bridges