We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Justine Gera. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Justine below.
Justine, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
A really meaningful project that I recently was apart of came at an amazing time for me in my life. I was cast in the ensemble for Season 2 of Schmigadoon! on Apple TV+. I actually auditioned for the first season back in 2020 and made it through to callbacks, but in the end was not cast. When the second season was in the process of casting new dancers, I was happy to give it another shot! I personally went through 4 auditions total for the series: a self tape, zoom callback, and then read for two different roles. I think it took a month or so to find out that I had been booked! It was incredibly rewarding to have been taken a chance on and that the hard work paid off! The rehearsal process was seamless, professional, and an overall creative & joyful environment. I am forever grateful to have worked with choreographer Christopher Gattelli and his creative team. The ensemble was wonderful – working with some old friends and meeting new ones as well. Once the show aired on Apple TV+, I was incredibly proud to be apart of it. It was awesome to see how much of what we actually rehearsed and filmed made it to TV! It showed that the creative vision was trusted and understood. And a big bonus of shooting this show was that I got to go home to Vancouver, Canada where all my family still live. I am always happy to go back to Canada for work when I can. If you haven’t seen the show yet – please watch it!! Both seasons are available on Apple TV+.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Justine Gera and I am a professional dancer, choreographer – and overall, a very creative individual. I started performing in professional jobs at the age of 10 years old and have now been in the industry for 20 years! I moved from Canada to Los Angeles in 2018 to continue my profession in the US. I regularly go back and forth between the States and Canada for work. When moving to LA, I honestly did not know what was going to happen and was very optimistic. It took a while to get the ball rolling and for California to feel like home. After almost 5 years in Los Angeles, I have developed many solid relationships with choreographers, dancers, & studio owners. I teach kids, professionals, & offer movement coaching privates for industry recording artists. Up to this point I can be seen in movies, television shows, music videos, & several live performances as a dancer. My work extends to the choreography team for the globally recognized brand, Royal Caribbean, national commercials, several music videos, and world tours. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, I went to school for fashion and now offer styling & the creation of custom garments for photo & video shoots. I upcycle clothing and have developed my own brand.
I am very proud of how far I have come in my career and all of the skills I have advanced through experience. There are a lot of amazing artists that have had a giant impact on my path and I am so grateful for all of the opportunities that have come my way thus far. I am proud of the work I have put in to my craft(s) and I am always eager to learn more.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I have several specific goals as an artist, but generally speaking, I am always just wanting to be better. I could have never predicted how my journey was going to go and I can already say that I have done things that I never thought I was going to do. I continue to stay open and am always wanting to learn from my experiences. Every opportunity comes with lessons and that should always help with your improvement in some way. Wether it be personal growth, likes & dislikes, standards, or general knowledge, there is always something to take away. So, a very general goal for myself is to continue to stay open, try new things, TRUST MY CAPABILITIES, and to not be afraid of a challenge. These things drive me to keep going as I don’t know what is around the corner.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I think the biggest thing that might be misunderstood about being a “self-employed” artist is that we don’t really work. I can assure you that is NOT the case. You cannot just sit around and wait for things to happen, you have to constantly keep up your training, put yourself and your work out there, & most importantly stay motivated. There are incredible highs and substantial lows while being in this line of work – and it takes YOU to get yourself through it all. For myself personally, I have been trying to work on being proud of everything I do and keeping up a positive mindset. Realistically it doesn’t stay positive all the time, but I am working to at least move on from the negative feelings quicker and not dwell in that feeling. Being self-employed and not really having a strict schedule can be very challenging at times. You have to almost create your own routine that is productive for your goals, but something that aids with balance as well. Long story short, we are constantly on the clock.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.justine-gera.com
- Instagram: @justinegera
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justine-gera-b8154296/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustineGera
Image Credits
Jesse Ballantyne Apple TV+ Electronic Arts