Today we’d like to introduce you to Jannet Carrera.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jannet. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My story began in Southern California. I am a proud Latina and come from an immigrant family. I grew up listening to the stories of the challenges my family conquered to migrate to the United States in hopes to live a better life has always inspired me. Therefore, I was determined to never give up. No matter how challenging the circumstances I was presented with would be. I grew up witnessing my family push beyond the status quo to achieve the American dream. So I knew it was in my DNA to build things from scratch, to take risks and face adversity to break barriers and depend on self-reliance when all else fails.
I have danced all my life since I was a little girl. From choreographing dance performances with my cousins for family parties to being on a dance team in high school. I always dreamed of being involved in the entertainment world, but I also knew that college education was a privilege and the reason for my families sacrifices; by providing us the opportunity to further our education. My journey consisted of me graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and actively auditioning for commercial modeling gigs, singing, and dancing. Then the opportunity of a lifetime for me arrived. I was exposed on national television for George Lopez Tonight Show on TBS as a dancer. After that, I became even more resilient to pursue my dreams. In addition, I dropped out of my Master’s program and decided to pursue dance. I became obsessed with my passion and craft. Auditions day in and out, I invested in me at all costs. From intensive dance training workshops with the best choreographers in Los Angeles, working at a part-time job on the side and investing so much time, tears, money and so many setbacks along the way. But, every investment was so WORTH IT! After some back-up dancer gigs and other dance opportunities, I was presented with an opportunity to teach dance at a High School setting. After that, my whole direction of dance changed. To be able to witness my students’ growth not only in dance but their confidence and resiliency to keep learning was admirable. My students became vulnerable and transparent in my presence. They trusted me completely to guide them. And, that feeling is what inspired me to keep pursuing my career as a dance choreographer for a purpose bigger than me. The amount of love and appreciation I received will forever leave an imprint on my soul. I knew at that very moment not only did I discover my true passion but a real unique purpose in life woke up inside me. In addition, I knew I was destined to live an authentic life through dance in hopes to inspire and empower those around me. In short, I felt dance found me. But I also felt that I’d earned it. It then led me to become an entrepreneur in the field of dance and Carrera Effect was born along with my Psych of Dance program.
Has it been a smooth road?
NOPE. But worth it every single day. You know that saying, “you need to take the road less traveled instead of the well-beaten path” well, let me tell y’all from experience I took that road and currently still taking it. And, you know what, its always worth it. The road to following your true passion is never easy, but you must learn to be creative in the process to keep going. Not only was I presented with self-doubt, risks, and hardships for following my dreams. You need to know something life will always throw curve balls at us. Thats the beauty of this process. No one ever wants to talk about the struggle, because let’s be honest its scary and ugly. No matter how ready you think you are for those curveballs, some things in life won’t be so easy to overcome. So, I was presented with a diagnostic of a chronic illness that changed my life forever. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and chronic migraine headaches. My journey began with seizures, panic/anxiety attacks, and unbearable headaches. My condition exposed me to torture, trauma, suffering, struggle, depression, pain, having no sense of control… it broke me. Mentally and emotionally. After many doctor visits, trial based test procedures, successful medical and science breakthroughs; I learned to overcome the confusion of what was happening to me and decided to walk by faith with the help of all my loved ones.
The challenges and struggles that came with following my passion have been the core of who I am now. Ive lost myself in the process from time to time. Somedays I am super overwhelmed, somedays I am hanging by a thread. And, somedays I go into my day not knowing how I am gonna make it. The challenges that came with my health condition have taught me to be mindful of my surroundings and the courage to find energy and strength when I don’t have any. Also, I would never be able to go about my without the people in it! My family, friends, doctors, my dog, people I’ve met along the way, dance fam, and of course dance in itself. They are all a big reason why I am still standing and living out my passions in life.
My advice for women who are just starting out their journey is: INVESTING IN YOURSELF WILL ALWAYS BE WORTH IT. If you feel you are interested in so many things; do them all. Never stop experimenting, learning, and researching ways to become a better you in your craft. The road is not easy my beautiful queens, the road will be full of detours, setbacks, and so much of “wanting to turn back to safety” my words of advice are ‘DONT STOP. KEEP PUSHING. A SOLUTION IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE” I believe the challenges in life are meant for growth. It’s important to become aware of your feelings and its important to take care of it. It’s important to pay attention and prioritize what needs your attention when starting out your journey. Such as, when you feel overwhelmed; take a rest day. If you feel discouraged, become aware of what is making you feel that emotion etc. Most importantly having an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE has helped me in my journey. Its important to be grateful for the dark days too. I promise it will allow you to embrace your journey. Celebrate your small wins, big wins, and everything in between. Find like-minded individuals that are in the same path as you for support and encouragement. And, most importantly, do not compare your success with someone else. Remember you are you and that is your power.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Carrera Effect & Psych of Dance – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I come with so much passion, energy and courage. In this era of my life, sometimes its hard to say what I do for a living. I feel so blessed that all my passions have turned into the many buckets that make up my career now. So lets give it a shot; I am currently a Dancer/Choreographer/ Educator/ Mentor/Speaker/Entrepreneur and currently a Senior Editor for The Code of Style Magazine based in Los Angeles. My ability to offer many talents has been my strength. I believe we are limitless and we can be whoever we want to be. Therefore my goal as a dancer is to provide an experience more than just dance; my purpose is to enrich, engage, educate, transform and inspire the lives I meet through the experience of dance. My ability to connect with people through dance is something I was born with. My instinct is to serve people, and I do this through my classes that I teach and my Psych of Dance program. I am in a phase in my life where all my talents make more sense than ever before. And I am loving it. I am so fulfilled knowing I am able to live out every single passion that has manifested in my life.
Carrera Effect equips each person to connect, inspire and empower the positive influence in themselves through the beauty of dance. We are all about developing relationships that make a positive difference in our dancers’ lives whether you are a professional dancer or you simply choose to dance because it makes you feel happy.
We aim to expose and explore an environment more than just dance; teamwork, artistry, integrity, kindness, creativity, personal accountability, a will to win at their own pace, most importantly we help our dancers discover their true identity by connecting the vision in becoming the best version of themselves. We specialize in teaching hip-hop classes from kids to adult, Latin fitness dance classes and lastly, hip-hop/Latin groove classes a mix of both genres.
We are different as our company focuses on changing the way you think, the way you see things, all in the hopes that make you take action. Dance can be a very competitive field, and we make sure our dancers never lose sight of why they started or simply on why they decided to take their first dance class. I am so proud of our dancers and students they are the heart of this company, the energy to keep providing a safe haven to anyone who walks in that studio is a feeling I am forever grateful for.
My Psych of Dance program is a mind, body, soul therapeutic program for the human spirit Psych of Dance is dedicated to changing lives focused on individual feedback to learn, experiment, perform, release and thrive. It will transform you from the way you think to the way you express yourself through movement. Intensive group discussions and improvisations are placed in the program in order to explore aspects of true authenticity. This program is open to all levels and no dance experience is necessary. My passion for psychology and dance is what inspired me to merge them both into a life-changing program. Psych of Dance is a brand built for those who go as far as it takes to discover and transform their emotional, psychological, and spiritual state of being through therapeutic movement.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
I am a fan of always researching and learning. I enjoy reading every morning. I practice gratitude journals every day. And, I enjoy listening to podcasts when I drive. I am proactively always finding ways on how to keep learning and becoming a better version of myself. That is to say, for every season in my life. But if I have to choose a few that have helped me throughout my journey in life they would have to be ” The School of Greatness” Podcast by Lewis Howes. One of my top favorite books have to be “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young, “Crushing It” by Gary Vaynerchuck and “The 5 Second Rule” by Mel Robbins. Other resources that have helped me are dance, therapy, writing, and traveling with my loved ones. I believe in having a student mentality. Therefore it is key to never stop learning. Firstly, I am always taking intensive dance seminars, writing retreat seminars, investing in coaches or mentors for specific areas of my business that I need guidance in. Secondly, I believe any resource that is going to help you in any way, shape or form should always be part of your lifestyle. Anything that makes you feel inspired, joy, instant happiness, or hyped: do it. To sum up, your inner happiness will always be the way to go. Follow your gut. Find what works for you.
Contact Info:
- Website: carreraeffect.com
- Email: carreraeffect@gamil.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/misscarrera
- Twitter: twitter.com/_misscarrera
- Other: linktr.ee/misscarrera
Image Credit:
Ramiro Gaytan- @gaytanproductions
Chris Escobar- @chrisescobar.social
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