#DancerDose – Jenna Dewan
January 11th, 2019 by Elizabeth Radabaugh

Famously known for her starring role in Step Up, Jenna Dewan has been moving her way up the Hollywood path one dance at a time. Dewan went from a small-town dancer with a dream to a full-fledged superstar.
Growing Up
Born on December 3, 1980, Dewan grew up in Hartford, Connecticut with her mother and Notre Dame football-player father. As a child, Dewan struggled through her parentsβ divorce. She moved at least 7 times before entering the 7thΒ grade. In an attempt to sort out her feelings about her parentβs separation, Dewan sought out the dancefloor.
While taking dance lessons, Dewan was also a varsity cheerleader for her high school. She was voted prom queen and was popular amongst her peers. Her joyous and comforting personality affected nearly everyone she came in contact with. She attended the University of Southern California for college while pursuing her passion for dance professionally.
Back-Up Dancer
Dewan first dance professionally in Janet Jacksonβs βDoesnβt Really Matterβ video in 2000. The following year, she appeared in the video for βAll For Youβ, ultimately landing her a spot on the All For YouΒ Tour that same year. Dewanβs collaboration with Jackson led her down the path toward professional success as she met various artists with Jacksonβs connections. After appearing in other videos and continuing to network privately, Dewan met the creators of Step Up and landed an audition.
Β
Step Up
Securing the role of Nora Clark in Step UpΒ put Dewan in the spotlight for the first time. She continued to stay there as she starred in Take The Lead, another dance drama, the same year. From then on, Dewan continued to pursue her passion for acting and dancing as she starred in the Lifetime film Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader ScandalΒ which brought her back to her roots as a cheer team captain. She took her talent to television as well as she landed a role in the NBC series The Playboy ClubΒ for one season. She went on to be featured on shows like American Horror Story, Witches of East End, and SupergirlΒ with recognizable roles that represented her prominence in the entertainment industry.
Talent Behind The Camera
Taking her talents a step further, Dewan joined friends Reid Carolin and Step Upco-star, Channing Tatum, to create a production company called 33andOut Productions. Settling behind the screen instead of in front of it, Dewanβs first documentary followed Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The film titled Earth Made of GlassΒ was a great success, being featured in the 2010 Tribeca film festival. Following the companyβs initial success, the group collaborated with YouTube to create a web television series based on the actorsβ own roots. Step Up: High WaterΒ has exposed younger audiences to the dance world through the globally successful platform.
World Of Dance
Driven to stay in the dancing world, Dewan now serves as the host and a mentor on the NBC series, World of Dance. The show aims to find the worldβs most successful dancer or group of dancers and guide them down the path toward success and stardom. Dewanβs participation in the series shows her desire to help those wishing to follow in her footsteps find their footing and get the recognition their talent deserves!
Passion For Animals
Along with wanting to help younger dancers, Dewan is also an animal rights activist. She practices veganism in hopes to shed light on the importance on caring for the creatures people may neglect. Dewan continues to promote her desire to protect animals by wearing cruelty-free products and expressing her beliefs on air and online.
Dewanβs passions lie beyond the dancefloor and nothing will come in the way of her dreams. This Step UpΒ star plans on leaving behind more than just her name in lights. She’s leaving a legacy for fighting for what one believes in.
_________________________________________________
Do you know a spectacular dancer that we should showcase?
EmailΒ wow@starquestdance.comthe dancerβs name andΒ why you think they should be featured!
________________________________________________________
Casey Eggers is a writer for StarQuest. She loves coffee, music, and running long distance.