After publishing my article, Naughty Girl Fitness: How to Twerk Your Way to a Healthier & Happier Life, I was honored to get the chance to sit down with the founder, Janelle Ginestra, to talk about her background in dance and the inspiration behind her different businesses.
From a whirlwind of energy as a toddler to a renowned choreographer, creative director, and business owner, Janelle Ginestra’s life journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Her passion for dance was sparked by a family member’s dance recital, where two-year-old Ginestra spent the entirety of the show captivated by the performers gliding across the stage. When her mother brought her to a local dance studio, they initially resisted accepting her as a student due to her young age but were immediately swayed by her innate talent and affinity for cartwheels.
As Ginestra grew, so did her talent and skill. She relocated to Los Angeles at the age of seven where she dabbled in dance styles like tap, jazz, and ballet while training under hip-hop legends, Dave Scott and Shane Sparks. Despite a brief detour into acting and competitive cheerleading, dance remained her life’s true purpose. “Even though I’ve done other things in my life, dance was always like, my church, my worship, who I truly am inside,” Ginestra said.
Once she graduated high school, Ginestra chose to follow her dreams and continue her dance career in place of a traditional college route. Ginestra threw herself into her dance education and after five years of intense training, landed her dream job—traveling and dancing with Pink on her “The Truth About Love” World Tour. “Learning from a strong, badass, risk-taking woman was everything I needed to know how to become the version of myself that I saw in the future,” Ginestra said, “Touring with her was everything because she cultivated the most empowering, validating, and beautiful energy.”
After touring with Pink, Ginestra continued to work with other artists like iyla, Nicki Minaj, and Halsey, further establishing her creative style. Blending perfectionism and spontaneity, her choreographic process involves translating music into movement and then altering the piece until it feels right. She remains open to all forms of movement, even those considered to be unconventional, and will frequently embrace the weird and random in her routines. “I feel like my brain would get too congested if I didn’t get to release these thoughts and move on,” Ginestra said.
When asked what advice she would give to aspiring dancers and choreographers, Ginestra’s advice is to be unapologetically themselves. “…if you’re picking [a career] that is just not ‘normal’, f*cking do it,” she said, “Don’t come in here and be scared of it, no! You picked it, do it!” In a world that’s brimming with talent, she believes individuality is the key to leaving a lasting impact and emphasizes the importance of embracing your confidence and uniqueness.
Janelle Ginestra’s latest venture, Naughty Girl Fitness, was born during the pandemic after undergoing an identity crisis triggered by some major life changes. “I had just gotten out of my marriage and dance seemed too emotional for me at that time,” she said, “But fitness allowed me to feel beautiful again.” Combining her choreographic background with her passion for exercise and wellness provided Ginestra with a safe space where she could heal and regain her strength and confidence. She didn’t recognize the program’s potential until one of her TikTok videos of a Naughty Girl Fitness class went viral. “…the next morning, I woke up to 800,000 views. I was like, “Holy sh*t, people do like it! They understand it!’” she said.
While the primary focus of Naughty Girl Fitness is physical health and wellness, there is a strong emphasis on mental well-being as well. Ginestra cited her classes “Fly High Sky” and “Beyond Us” as some of her favorites because they reflect her spiritual nature and help her foster a connection with her higher self. Her main goal for the program is to uplift and inspire others and, with the rapid increase in subscribers, also hopes to introduce new features in the future such as strength training, certification courses, and a clothing line which embodies the brand’s mission. “I just want to provide a loving, safe, and empowering space for all people to come and feel a sense of joy in their day!” she said. Naughty Girl Fitness is a shining example of Ginestra’s resilience, creativity, and passion for encouraging others to recognize their beauty and confidence.
Between her various creative projects—like her Lady Gaga and Doja Cat Mini Concerts—and teaching dance and fitness, Ginestra’s schedule is already packed to the brim! She loved the business structure of Naughty Girl Fitness so much that she teamed up with 49ers Gold Rush dancer, Nina Saifi Anowia, to create a similar subscription-based business, Let’s Cheer Up!, to pay homage to her background in competitive cheerleading. She explains, “…cheerleading really saved my life in high school. I could have gone down a really bad path, but cheerleading provided me with structure, discipline, and a really healthy, athletic, inspiring balance in my life.” While Let’s Cheer Up! has been a more difficult business venture, Ginestra appreciates the challenge and highlights the importance of innovation, perseverance, and belief in your product.
Janelle Ginestra is the epitome of authenticity and is frequently cited as a beacon of light, humor, and passion by the people who know her. The originality displayed in her choreography, businesses, and life are unmistakable and she constantly inspires others with her ingenuity. Always humble and eager to help, she loves providing others with mentorship and advice and relishes her status as a role model. Her recommendations to young women about to enter the real world include taking risks, putting yourself out there, and networking. “Be strong and don’t buckle down in turmoil. Use your education, use your knowledge and intelligence, use your beliefs to get you where you see yourself going,” she advises, “The world, workspaces, and people can all feel intimidating, but you only have one opportunity every day to make a difference. So, use it and believe in your gifts, for real.”
To read more about Janelle Ginestra’s life experiences and behind-the-scenes details about Naughty Girl Fitness, click here for our full interview transcript!