We were lucky to catch up with Michael Jigstyle recently and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I was always a super big fan of Michael Jackson. His singing and dance combination in creating visionary influence to the entertainment culture was inspiring despite all odds.

Starting from 8th grade then going into high school, I saw many kids around my neighborhood dancing in the streets as well as school. I wasn’t the most coolest kid in school and was bullied a lot in my previous years. I was also hanging out with the wrong crowd, just so I could feel protected. One day, a friend of mine got me to dance on stage with him my 9th grade year for black history month. Our showcase was a tribute to Michael Jackson, coincidently. After that day, all the students started treating me differently. The guys respected me and the ladies adored me. This was when I felt reborn.

Finding my love for entertaining others became apart of me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

So the way I got into my craft was full circle. This experience helped showed me how far true patience and resilience can take someone. My mothers’ oldest sister, Aunty Janet (God rest her soul) saw a raw talent in me before anyone else did, including myself, back when I was growing up in the Bronx, NY. When I moved to Florida, she knew how big of a fan I was of Michael Jackson and sent me a VHS tape of Michael Jackson’s “History” that included all of his biggest music video hits in his prime. This is what sparked me on becoming a dancer. I remember since elementary school, I was a very good singer as well, due to my musical background & ability to play the piano by ear. I wanted to perform in my first talent show, but was not supported by my mother or the teachers to do it. This experience was discouraging. It broke my spirit and made me quit singing.

I started dressing different, walking & talking different and later earned the nickname “JIGSAW” the dancer. 10+Years go by and I managed to train myself and other students of mine, travel to different parts of the world and Dance on the cruise ships, win multiple dance competitions, such as World of Dance and ProAm Miami, as well as being on a world wide reality (Tv/internet) competition show and winning Universal Street Games at the X-Games (dance category). In addition, I’ve managed to book multiple commercials best recognized on Pizza Hut, Tropical Smoothie, and Wawa. Also have done music videos for major artists’ such as Pitbull, FloRida, Erika Jayne (Real Housewives), Wisin & Yandel, Rosalia, just to name a few.

Even with all the accomplishments I was grateful to create for myself, something still felt incomplete. I later almost lost my life, due to a severe car accident and health issues. My life flashed before my eyes and I realized maybe I should start using my voice again. Next thing you know, a #singingchallenge popped up on my social media and I decided to do it. I wrote an original verse and posted it on Facebook, not expecting anything to come from it. It went Viral! No one knew I could sing too. From there, I made my own beats, added more to the verse and turned it into my first song that people still listen to today, called “If That’s Alright.” I was no longer just “Jigsaw the dancer” but was evolved into “Michael Jigstyle -The Entertainer.” CEO of Jigstyle Productions and NTSTRZ Ent. music Label on the rise.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My Dance influence comes from 3 experiences in my life: Musical/Dance Artists’ and Producers, Miming/spiritual dancers in and out the church, and street dancers from my own, as well as, other underground neighborhoods in the U.S.

On my rise up, there was always friendly competition, but to some, they took this more seriously. It’s common like any other “sport” that egoes and conifidence can easily get intertwine or misconstrued when trying not to allow someone to discredit “your” art. I remember rumors spreading about me of the most outrages things, such as being a liar, a crew hopper, needing attention, and my favorite, being called a (biter or copy-cat). Other movement artist did their best to try and dimension my character in hopes it will stop my growth as a popular dancer in other fans eyes. It didn’t work!!! I just kept posting, I just kept going.

One thing is for sure, I learned so much about what fame looks and feels like (on a smaller level) and helped prepared me for the real world-real fame to come. I realized at the end of the day, “not everyone is going to like you and your craft. It’s your story and you are the author. Do you want to leave this earth without finishing your story? Then you have to push through and finish it. Leave no possible regrets to come back to you when you are truly done and satisfied with your legacy. You’ll never know who your story can inspire!” -Jigs$

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

After my teacher(Grandmother) passed away in 2020 during the quarantine lockdown, I was the last person she saw. I made a promise that I will elevate this family to the best of my ability with the Talent she always saw in me since I was a kid in NYC & Jamaica.

My mission is to inspire others to not only continue the Art of music and Dance together in the music industry, but to elevate the star quality of a dancer being the forefront of Artistry and not just the background filling. We have stories, we have other talents, and we can hold a crowds attention on our own as well. I want to do something that will capture the non-dancers (as well as upcoming dancers) attention that will inspire people to see what life is like behind a dancers eyes.

With this mission, my goal is to find an investor that will help fund my TV Show idea that will change myself and my families life for generations to come. Willing to relocate to do studio work in Atlanta, GA (preferably ATL), New York City, or Los Angeles. It’s going to start with getting peoples attention from my Upcoming music project in 2023 on my YouTube channel. Im also building my own record label, NTSTRZ Ent. filled with artists’ that can sing or rap but most of all, have dancing experience. Our slogging has always been to “shoot for the starz, so we can land on the clouds.” -Jigs$

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Jigstyle_official
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JigstyleOfficial/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/Jigaman101
• Other: Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/Jigstyle954
  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jigstyle_official

Image Credits
@viviimage @5six7co @mikesmarro.photography @lauriecaradonna @visualsbymalonephotography