Dancer And Influencer Brooklyn Bustamante On “This Is Us”, Biggest Idols, And Favorite Role

This dancer has always been in the spotlight!

At just 17 years old, Brooklyn has already won several dancing competitions and has worked on some of the biggest brands in the industry.

We had the absolute honor of talking with Brooklyn on her favorite style of dance, when she first started competing, and more!

Q: How old are you and where are you from? 

B: “I am 17 years old and I am from Phoenix, Arizona!”

Q: At what age did you get into competitive dance? 

B: “I started dancing at my studio at the age of two and joined the competition team when I was four years old. I’ve been dancing competitively ever since!”

Q: What about dance makes you feel free? 

B: “Dance has always been my escape from the world. No matter what kind of day I’m having, I know that as soon as I’m dancing, everything will feel okay. I’ve never been an open person when it comes to the things that bring me down, so instead of talking about what i’m feeling, I dance. Dance is my form of communication. I use my artistry to tell my stories through movement and emotion. I am confident when I’m dancing and I love being able to emerge myself in the movement, it’s when I feel most content and free.”

Q: What has been the greatest experience with dancing? 

B: “This is a really tough question! I’m so lucky to have had so many incredible experiences involving dance, it’s so hard to pick just one! But one of my greatest experiences with dancing would have to be working on “The Winter of Oz” with Lythgoe Family Panto in Pasadena, California as a dancer in the ensemble. I spent two months living in California and working with so many talented people putting together an incredible show. I love doing stage work since I grew up competing on the stage!”

Q: What is your favorite style to dance to? Jazz, hip hop, etc. 

B: “My favorite style to dance to is 100% lyrical. Ever since I started dance, this has been my favorite style. Lyrical gives me the opportunity to dance through the hard things I go through in life. Styles such as hip hop or jazz are more upbeat, but lyrical is slow and emotional. I am the most emotional person ever, so this style is perfect for me.”

Q: You were a dancer on NBC’s favorite show “This Is Us” tell us more about your experience? 

B: “Dancing on “This Is Us” was one of the best experiences ever! I spent a week in Los Angeles working at Paramount Studios on the episode. We went through multiple rehearsals and fittings before spending a whole day filming. We danced on pointe for the show, which was really fun since most jobs in the industry are hip hop or jazz! We filmed multiple dance scenes and even had the opportunity to do a little acting for shots to use before the dance class started in the show. Working on such a well known show with insanely talented actors felt so surreal. Being surrounded by people I’ve looked up to my whole life was the coolest thing ever. That week assured me that this is what I love to do and gave me motivation to continue to work to pursue my dreams!”

Q: Who are your biggest idols when it comes to dancing? 

B: “Some of my biggest idols when it comes to dance are my own teammates, teachers, and mentors! There are so many talented people in this industry who I am inspired by, but the people closest to me are the ones I most look up to. I learn so much everyday from my own teams and am constantly in awe of their hard work, positive attitudes, and talent. I’m so lucky to have so many people surrounding me pushing me to be a better dancer everyday.”

Q: Besides dancing, what are some other things you are passionate about?

B: “Dance will always be my first and biggest passion, but I am also very passionate about acting! My interest in acting started when I began taking a musical theatre class at my dance studio. I had so much fun reading through scripts and I decided to explore acting more! I now work on both and am hopeful to continue working on more acting jobs in the future!”

Q: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? 

B: “This is a hard question! I’ve always been the kind of person to think far into the future and plan my life out, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized it’s almost impossible to do so. It seems as though once I’m comfortable in my current path, life throws another curve ball my way. I trust that I will end up exactly where I am meant to be, wherever that is! With that being said, I hope to have graduated from college and be in LA working!”

Q: Are there any new exciting projects you are working on?

B: “I am currently working on social media collaborations and some acting and dance videos that I am excited to share!”

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bryana Medina– Celebrity/Entertainment Reporter- Bryana Medina recently graduated from California State University Dominguez Hills where she got her bachelor’s degree in Journalism.  As a journalist, she collected skills like public speaking, broadcasting, and mass media. She has planned on making a difference in the media industry by using her voice and expertise..