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In 1998, Dru Hill dropped the sensual and seductive album Enter the Dru. On that landmark album, Beauty was a song set to illuminate young ladies hearts across the world over. Well, “beauty” may not be Jennifer Johnson’s name – but she is a one of a kind treat.
The Chicago native is a classically trained dancer who’s went from strutting her routines on the BET Comic View stage to commanding her own dancers as captain of the Washington Wizards dance team. This past year, Ms. Johnson landed a lead role on a pilot entitled Club Fiji shot on location on the Fiji Islands Her soft-toned face has also been featured on Mad TV, Half & Half, and Still Standing. When not dancing, this devastating diva of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated teaches her craft to at-risk students and participates with many community projects.
Ms. Johnson is an absolute pleasure to talk to and she sits down with HHDX as she talks about her humble beginnings, how Idlewild prompted a career change, and gives a little insight on how it feels to be single.
HHDX: You got your start as the captain of the Washington Wizards dance team. Who was your dance influences growing up? How did you get the role of Captain?
JJ: Growing up, I was a ballet dancer. All my training is in tap, jazz, modern… I learned hip-hop later on. Mikhail Baryshnikov is my influence. To me… he was perfection. I studied a lot of his work, his shows and his routines. The works put on by the Chicago City Ballet, Alvin Ailey and the Harlem Ballet influenced me; those were my strongest influences, growing up. Debbie Allen, a strong beautiful black dancer, was someone who I looked up to, also. I received my promotion by showing how hard of a worker; how passionate of a dancer that I was. I went from the rookie to a captain.
HHDX: So, what were the perks to being captain of the dance team?
JJ: Of course, I got paid more, but I also got to implement my ideas instead of having to totally following someone. I still had a director that was over me, but I still got to use my choreography and made decisions. I enjoyed being able to do that. It was a beautiful experience.
HHDX: The captain of the team, Gilbert Arenas, is having a great season and was the point guard for the All-Star Game. Do you sometimes miss being on the court with the fans screaming around you?
JJ: Oftentimes, I do. But I still get that because I dance for different artists. But it’s not the same as having the same fans scream for you at the home games. I got to watch hot sexy men dribbling down the court. Not seeing that hurts; we were like a family. The pay was not great at all… by any means. But I liked being a local celebrity. I mean come on… its D.C., Chocolate City. I was there when Michael Jordan was there. I’m from Chicago as well, but I also am glad to have been able to be there at that time. We went to parties with him and would hang out. He’s a great man.

HHDX: Some people don’t have the drive to fulfill all of their aspirations. You were not only on the dance team, but you got your B.A. in Psychology from Howard University. Through it all what kept you going to pursue your goals?
JJ: I feel very lucky in that I was able to get an education. With my parents, there wasn’t any choice when it came to education. But for me, dancing was not a choice, either. I couldn’t imagine not dancing. I have been dancing since preschool. Either one couldn’t take the place of either one. I have always been in school and dancing. I was pledging, captain of the Wizards, touring and all that. It got stressful, but the awards outweighed the difficult times, by far. My heart wouldn’t let me do something otherwise.
HHDX: So far, what has been the best moment in your storied career?
JJ: That’s a tough one. Hmm… I would say it was a couple. But I would have to say that touring to entertain the U.S. troops was one of the best moments. I would do that a few times a year. I’ve been to Asia, Greenland… all over with the world to entertain the troops. That was one of my most rewarding times. Just to see the appreciation and the looks on their faces was incredible. Another time was doing when I did the movie, Idlewild. It was an amazing experience, I met a lot of wonderful people. The film, itself, had a great director. I love being around my people. In LA, you don’t get to do that as much, so to be around all those beautiful people, it was refreshing.
HHDX: With stereotypes and labels running rampant when it comes to women and entertainment – how do you defy those misrepresentations that seem to hinder other women’s careers and continue to make a path for yourself?
JJ: It’s unfortunate. I haven’t, in my career, done anything that I didn’t want my mom to know about. That’s something that I’m not willing to do. I’m also lucky enough to not have been in a situation where I’m placed with an ultimatum. I will never be in that position. First and foremost, it’s about who I am and how I was raised to be. My person, my morals are not something that I will sacrifice or compromise. If I have to sleep with a director, then that part is not for me. I do not know what goes on, but I have heard stories, if that is something that needs to be done then that is not for me. My talent should and does speak for itself.
HHDX: You made quite the name for yourself through your dancing, Ms. Johnson. If you weren’t doing that – what would you have found yourself doing?
JJ: I would see myself as a psychologist or a journalist. I love writing. I wrote for the Wizards organization. I like that kind of thing. I like writing stories. I dabbled in poetry, although I think that I’m not that hot. It’s something that comes naturally to me. I like helping others. You know that psychologists have their own problems [laughs]. So, I’d probably have to have a psychologist for me [laughs].

HHDX: Men have probably come from near and far to try and be in range of a person like you. What would you say has been the smartest come-on that a gentleman has ever hit you with?
JJ: Let’s just say that at first I wasn’t feeling being single. I’ve pretty much have had a boyfriend since I was 14. I am into making a relationship work. I love having a man, you know… I’m a Cancer and I love to be nurturing. I love cooking, petting him and cuddling. I love doing the woman thing. I love to be a woman for my man. So, for me to not have a man, I felt like I need something. Maybe I’ll get a puppy. Eight months being single for me is quite a step. I don’t mind so much anymore. I find myself looking for a man. Finding a date is not a problem, it’s finding a guy that I can really connect with. As I am getting older, I am getting pickier. I don’t want to settle for less. But, ooh… the smartest come-on to me wouldn’t be a one-liner. It’s definitely when it comes from the heart. I love a smart man. That wins for me everyday. A man who has a smart come-on wouldn’t even know that he turned me on. I was in a Best Buy in North Carolina and this computer tech had turned me on. He was able to spit all that language and explained the differences in the computer. He won me over and he didn’t even know it.
HHDX: So, you would want the football player type of guy or the book-smart man?
JJ: I mean… the first guy would be a turn on as far as brevity. But the second guy, the man with the intelligence would win in the long run. He would be someone who I’d want to be my man. The second guy would be the one who I want. I don’t have a deep connection with those physique types. I am a homebody and more so a settling-down type.
HHDX: You also found another passion in acting and were involved in the movie, “Idlewild”. How did you come across the part and what did you take from the experience?
JJ: For Idlewild, there were huge auditions in LA and in NY. For my role, they took six of us out of probably close to 1,000 dancers. It was a long auditioning process. What I got out of it was that it was career changing for me. It let me know that – I had always been dancing – but it was now that I had lines and it introduced me to the acting world. It made me get into class. I have done numerous commercials, a few independent films. My partner and I wrote a pilot that we’re going to start filming soon. I toured and done a lot of co-starring on television shows. I am looking for my own sitcom. I’d want to be a series regular on a show. That’s what I want for 2007. Those are things that I wasn’t even thinking about before Idlewild. I wasn’t thinking on that scale in the beginning. I am thankful for the opportunity… I almost didn’t go to the audition. I knew that everybody in the city was going to be there. There’s a huge dance community in LA. Everyone was the best from their cities; they flocked to LA to do the same thing. I called my agent and told her that I wasn’t going to be able to make it. In this career, you’re up one minute and you’re down the next. I was kind of new at the time and I wasn’t up for being in this mass cattle call of an audition. My agent told me that they wanted me to be there, specifically. Had I not called my agent I wouldn’t know that fact. So, thank you to my agent for that one.

HHDX: Now, I have a crush on this girl and you get to work with her. How did you link up with Elise Neal and her Godiva Assorted Flavors?
JJ: [Laughs] Wow, again that was an audition. Elise put the group together herself. She had auditions spanning about a year. That’s how I got in. I don’t know where that group is going as of now, we haven’t been working together for a second. There were production differences, so I’m not exactly sure. I hope that the group can make it happen. The dynamics of the group were great. I hope that differences can be settled. We’re all doing our own separate projects.
HHDX: You’re also a devastating diva of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. They have an influential membership across the world. What was it about that organization that made you want to join?
JJ: The women and what they stand for. By far, I love the whole idea of sisterhood. I love that women of color can come together and make a strong organization to make things happen for their community and each other. I see those women all being influential members of their community. They’re smart and beautiful women and that draws me in. They’re definitely no joke and I’m honored to be a part of the sorority.
HHDX: Being that you’re an influential organization – what type of influence are you trying to make on others?
JJ: As an artist, I do a lot of volunteer work. This was before I was a part of Delta Sigma Theta. I volunteered at the local community centers since I was 15 years old to teach dance. That’s because to me at-risk youth are not necessarily that. Being able to help, being able to teach these kids, who had no professional training, how natural they are is a beautiful responsibility. It feels good to tap into their talents. Maybe they’re not into sports, but to let them be able to see how good they are with something they love is a blessing. Me knowing that I’m a dancer gave me the confidence for the rest of my life.
HHDX: Aside from all the accolades and wonderful accomplishments that you’ve made – what’s next for you?
JJ: I’m not going to stop until Jennifer Johnson is a household name. So, I’m going to keep auditioning and work on my acting. I do my bit roles here and there. You may see me in a few upcoming commercials. But what’s next is… a movie. I am speaking it into existence. With dancing… right now, I am touring with Tyrese and I recently was dancing with Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland. Acting wise, I am going to do my pilot and keep up the pursuit of being immersed in entertainment. My goal is to keep pushing and never stop.

source-hiphopdx

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