詹妮弗·琼斯：成为首位非裔美国无线电城音乐厅火箭女郎的历程

我在娱乐行业的职业生涯让我有机会与各种人才合作。

My career in the entertainment industry has enabled me to work with a diverse range of talent.

通过多年的经验，我认识到两个关键方面：行业专业人士，无论是知名明星还是幕后工作人员，都有引人入胜的故事可以讲述。

Through my years of experience, I've recognized two essential aspects: industry professionals, whether famous stars or behind the scenes staff, have fascinating stories to tell.

其次，观众渴望倾听这些故事，它们能让人一窥他们的生活以及人生故事的演变。

Secondly, audiences are eager to listen to these stories, which offer a glimpse into their lives and the evolution of their life stories.

本播客旨在分享这些叙事，提供他们如何选择并发展自己职业道路的信息。

This podcast aims to share these narratives, providing information on how they evolve into their chosen career.

我们将深入探讨他们成名的历程，讨论他们的挣扎与成功，并聆听那些帮助他们实现目标的人们的故事。

We will delve into their journey to stardom, discuss their struggles and successes, and hear from people who helped them achieve their goals.

准备好迎接引人入胜的幕后故事，并深入了解娱乐界这个迷人的世界。

Get ready for intriguing behind the scenes stories and insights into the fascinating world of entertainment.

大家好，我是托尼·曼托。

Hi, I'm Tony Mantor.

欢迎收看《纳什维尔现场直击》。

Welcome to Almost Live Nashville.

今天加入我们的是珍妮弗·琼斯。

Joining us today is Jennifer Jones.

珍妮弗作为首位非裔美国无线电城音乐厅火箭女郎创造了历史，打破了种族壁垒，为后代舞者铺平了道路。

Jennifer made history as the first African American Radio City Music Hall Rockette, breaking racial barriers and paving the way for future generations of dancers.

她在超级碗XXII中场秀上完成了全国首秀，这标志着她的职业生涯和火箭女郎传统的一个变革性时刻。

She made her national debut during the Super Bowl XXII halftime show marking a transformative moment in her career and the legacy of the Rockettes.

她已成为一位获奖表演者、作家和倡导者，因其开创性成就和有力的故事讲述而备受赞誉。

She has become an award winning performer, author, advocate celebrated for her pioneering achievements and powerful storytelling.

她还是舞蹈精灵娃娃的创作者，致力于为全球儿童推广代表性和多样性。

She's also the creator of the Dancing Gen Doll, promoting representation and diversity for children everywhere.

她还是一位结直肠癌幸存者，并积极倡导提高意识和早期检测，用她的声音激励人们保持希望和韧性。

She is also a colorectal cancer survivor and passionate advocate for awareness and early detection using her voice to inspire hope and resilience.

最近，她正式入选了好莱坞博物馆的‘舞动跳跃’展览，这是一个致敬黑人艺术家、表演者、作家和体育人物的展览，将于2月19日开幕。

Most recently, she has been officially inducted into the Joint is Jumping exhibit at the Hollywood Museum, a tribute to black artists, performers, writers and sports figures, opening February 19.

她现在与包括惠特尼·休斯顿、莉娜·霍恩、丹泽尔·华盛顿、艾拉·菲茨杰拉德、奥普拉·温弗瑞、戴安娜·罗斯、乌比·戈德堡、穆罕默德·阿里等在内的众多传奇人物并列。

She now stands among legends including Whitney Houston, Lena Horne, Denzel Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Oprah Winfrey, Diana Ross, Whoopi Goldberg, Muhammad Ali, and many more.

她有一个非常精彩的故事要告诉我们。

She has a tremendous story to tell us.

所以在进入我们这一集之前，我们将在广告后为您带来 uninterrupted 的完整节目。

So, before we dive into our episode, we'll be back with an uninterrupted show right after a word from our sponsors.

感谢您今天加入我们。

Thanks for joining us today.

哦，谢谢你们邀请我。

Oh, thank you for having me.

不，应该是我感到荣幸。

Oh, the pleasure's all mine.

我非常欣赏你所做的一切，也很期待这次对话。

I really enjoy what you do, and I'm looking forward to this conversation.

谢谢。

Thank you.

非常感谢。

Thank you very much.

谢谢。

Thank you.

你是第一位加入火箭女郎舞蹈团的黑人。

You were the first African American to join the Rockettes.

你能给我们讲讲那是什么样的经历吗？

Can you give us a glimpse of what that was like?

当你第一次登上舞台与她们同台表演时，心情是怎样的？

What were your emotions when you first stepped on stage and performed with them?

哦，成为第一位非裔美国火箭女郎舞者简直太棒了。

Oh, being the first African American Rockette was simply amazing.

从小时候起，我就梦想在宏伟的舞台上跳舞，你知道的，拥有灯光、假睫毛、口红、光芒，一切。

Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to dance on a grand stage, you know, have the lights, the lashes, the lipstick, the light, everything.

而我真的在无线电城音乐大厅这个地标性舞台上实现了这个梦想。

And I really got a chance to do that on the landmark stage of Radio City Music Hall.

我不仅实现了童年跳舞的梦想，还为其他黑人舞者打开了大门，让他们也能自豪地称自己为无线电城音乐大厅的火箭女郎。

And not only did I get to live out my childhood dream of dancing, but I got to open the doors for other black dancers to call themselves Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.

你是否意识到，你不仅在追逐自己的梦想，实际上还在改变历史？

Did you realize that you were not only chasing your dreams, but in fact changing history?

我去参加无线电城音乐厅火箭女郎舞团试镜时，根本不知道她们是谁。

I had no idea who the Rockettes were when I auditioned for the Radio City musical Rockettes.

我甚至完全不了解这个舞团。

I did not even know who they were.

从小到大，我的父母都是百老汇的忠实观众。

Growing up, my parents were avid Broadway goers.

他们去看了所有最新最棒的百老汇演出，比如《维伦与皮平》、《耶稣基督万世巨星》这些热门剧目。

They went to see all the latest and greatest greatest Broadway shows, then Vereen and Pippin, Jesus Christ superstar hair.

当《魔法坏女巫》来到百老汇时，因为是适合儿童观看的剧目，主演有斯蒂芬妮·米尔斯、梅布尔·金、安德烈·德·希尔兹等优秀演员。

And when the whiz came to Broadway and it was kid friendly, and that was with Stephanie Mills and Mabel King, Andre De Shields, all the great.

他们带我和我妹妹去看了五次。

They took me and my sister to see it five times.

每次观看都让我更加坚定：这就是我想要毕生追求的事业。

And each time, it was more solidified in me that, ugh, this is what I wanna do with my life.

每次演出结束后，我们都会在后台门口等着要签名。

And then after the show, each time, we would wait at the backstage door, wait for autograph.

我记得开车穿过林肯隧道回家的路上就在想，我想做他们在舞台上做的事，从后台门口走出来，这就是我命中注定要做的事。

And I remember driving home through the Lincoln Tunnel thinking, I wanna do what they do on that stage, walk out of a backstage door, and that is what I'm supposed to do with my life.

所以当我参加火箭女郎的试镜时，我并不知道她们是谁。

So when I auditioned for the Rockette, I didn't know who they were.

我的一个朋友鼓励我去试试。

A friend of mine, encouraged me to go.

她在《综艺》杂志上看到了这次选拔。

She saw the audition in a Prague's paper.

她说，珍妮弗，你会成为一名很棒的火箭女郎。

She said, Jennifer, you'd make a great rockette.

你真的应该去参加这次选拔。

You should really go to this audition.

然后，我就不知道了。

Then, I don't know.

但由于我在这个行业非常青涩和缺乏经验，在试镜时非常紧张和胆怯。

But being very green and new in the business, I was very nervous and intimidated at auditions.

所以我去参加试镜是为了克服那种紧张感，为我重要的百老汇突破做好准备。

So I went to the audition to get over that nervousness and get ready for my big Broadway break.

你能告诉我们你面临的一些挑战是什么吗？

Can you tell us what some of the challenges were that you faced?

作为队伍中的第一位黑人女性，在一个1925年成立的机构中带来变革，

Being the first black woman on the line with change coming in an institution like that, they were founded in 1925.

所以在经历了整整60年没有黑人女性加入队列后，当时确实存在阻力，不仅来自队列中的女士们，也来自管理层。

So after a good sixty years having a black woman on the line, there was resistance to that, not only with ladies on the line, but also with people in management.

当然，队列中也有女士们已经准备好迎接融合，认为这是时候做出改变了。

There were also ladies on the line who were ready for, you know, the line to be integrated and thought it it was time.

特别是在1987年的纽约市背景下，你会以为队列里应该已经有黑人女性了。

Especially in 1987 under the backdrop of New York City, you would have thought that there would be a black woman on the line.

所以我特别倚重那些友善的女士们，她们希望我成为最优秀的火箭女郎，并帮助我学习火箭女郎的术语、语言、动作和高踢腿技巧。

So I really leaned into the ladies that were kind and wanted me to be the best Rockette possible and helped me learn the Rockette terminology, the Rockette language, the moves, the I high kicks.

我就这么做了。

And that's what I did.

您是哪一年加入的？

What year was it that you joined?

我于1987年被录用，我的首场演出是1988年的超级碗中场秀，也就是第二十二届超级碗。

I was hired in 1987, and my debut performance was the nineteen eighty eight Super Bowl halftime show, Super Bowl twenty two.

哇哦。

Wow.

所以Radio City刚庆祝了百年诞辰。

So the Rawcast just celebrated a hundred years.

知道您在重塑这个标志性品牌、推动它发展到今天的过程中扮演了如此重要的角色，这对你意味着什么？

What does that mean to you knowing that you played such a role in reshaping that iconic name into what it has grown into today?

回首我的旅程，我感到非常震撼，因为我在无线电城音乐厅的舞蹈确实改变了如今家庭观众观看演出的方式，也推动了舞蹈行业朝着更多元化和融合的方向发展。

It feels quite amazing, looking back on my journey and knowing that my presence in dancing at Radio City Music Hall really changed a lot of ways that the families come see the show now and a lot of ways that changed the dance industry to be more diverse and integrated.

对于一个只是想在伟大舞台上跳舞的小女孩来说，能真正改变历史，这简直就像是锦上添花。

It's just kind of the cherry on top for a little girl to just wanna dance on a great stage and actually change history.

你刚开始跳舞的时候是纽约人吗？

Now was you originally from New York when you first started dancing in this?

我是个在新泽西出生并长大的女孩。

I'm a Jersey girl born and raised.

嗯，那已经很近了，没关系。

Well, that's close enough, so that's okay.

我刚听说你参与了好莱坞的《This Joint is Jumping》。

I just heard that you are a part of Hollywood's This Joint is Jumping.

是的。

Yes.

那感觉怎么样？

Now how does that feel?

这不仅是在致敬黑人艺人，也致敬了体育人物。

Not only is it honoring black entertainers as well as sports figures.

你的名字和艾拉·菲茨杰拉德、穆罕默德·阿里、理查德·普赖尔并列其中。

Your name's in there with Ella Fitzgerald, Muhammad Ali, Richard Pryor.

那可都是大人物啊。

That's big names.

这一定让人受宠若惊吧。

That has to be overwhelming.

说实话，我到现在还没完全反应过来。

You know, that really hasn't sunk in yet.

这个消息上周才传到我这，能成为这些演艺界和体育界名人中的一员让我欣喜若狂，这种荣誉感还在我体内回荡，我真的感到既幸运又荣幸。

That just came across my desk within the past week, and I am so elated to be a part of all of those entertainers and sports figures, and it's still kind of, like, resonating in my body, and I'm just I feel blessed and honored.

是的。

Yeah.

太棒了。

That's great.

那么你希望参观者以及年轻人们，看到你的故事和你在这场精彩展览中的呈现，他们能从中获得什么启示呢？

Now what do you hope that the visitors as well as the younger people, what do you think that they will take away seeing your story and you being represented in this great exhibit?

嗯，我希望孩子们和成年人都能看到各种可能性，永远不要活在遗憾中，不要总想着‘我本可以’或者‘如果我做了这个会怎样’.

Well, my hope is to have children and adults look at possibilities and never live a life of regret or I wish I could've or I wonder what if I did this.

当我追求梦想时，我不想活在那种'如果'的现实里，我真的去行动了，全力以赴。

When I was going after my dream, I did not wanna live in that reality, and I really went and I went for it.

结果比我所能想象的还要好得多。

And it came out so much better than I could have even imagined.

我认为这对每个人都是可能的，只要你追随内心的直觉、生活的热情，并且永不放弃。

And I think that's possible for everyone as long as you follow your inner instinct, your passion in life, and don't give up.

现在我了解到你写了一本名为《On the Line》的儿童书。

Now I understand you have written a children's book entitled On the Line.

是的。

Yes.

你能给我们透露一下，你希望孩子们从阅读你的书《在线》中获得什么启示吗？

Can you give us a little insight and what you hope children take away from reading your book On the Line?

嗯，对于我的儿童书，我真的很希望孩子们能感受到我在那么小的年纪就对某件事怀有深厚的热爱。

Well, for my children's book, I really wanted the connection for the child to know that I had a deep love of something at such a young age.

如果他们也对成为厨师、足球运动员或梦想成为宇航员怀有深厚热爱，就要始终追随那份激情。

And if they had a deep love of maybe being a chef or a soccer player or dreaming of being an astronaut, to always follow that passion.

我这本书最让我喜爱的是最后一段，最后一页的内容。

And what I really love about my book is the last passage, the last page.

我希望它能促进父母与孩子之间关于孩子在这个世界上真正热爱之事的对话。

And I hope it fosters the conversation between a parent and child of what that child really loves to do in the world.

也许父母可以在这方面给予培养，并帮助他们将其变为现实。

And maybe the parents can kind of nurture that and bring that to life for them.

是的。

Yeah.

那很好。

That's nice.

你还写了你的回忆录。

You also wrote your memoir.

是的。

Yes.

我再问你一个问题。

I'm gonna ask you another question.

这次，我们要再深入一点。

This time, we're gonna dig just a little bit deeper.

把你完整的故事写成一本书，让所有人都能看到，那是一种怎样的体验？

What was it like telling your full story and turning your life into a book for everyone to see?

非常脆弱。

Very vulnerable.

我感觉非常坦诚。

I felt very open.

说实话，我非常紧张，要把一切都公之于众。

I was very nervous to be quite honest, you know, to put everything out there.

我深入讲述了自己作为火箭女郎的来龙去脉，以及我所经历的一些挑战，但更多的是我热爱的那些辉煌时刻。

I went into the ins and out of my Rockette legacy and some of the challenges that I did face, but all of the triumphs that I loved about it.

我还谈到了我的离婚经历以及抚养两个年幼孩子的过程，这既是一种疗愈，也是一种释放。

I also delve into my divorce and raising my two young children, and that was very therapeutic and cathartic all at the same time.

我还谈到了我与癌症抗争的经历，明白其中固然有挑战，但这些也是学习和成长的机会，是塑造品格的过程，是培养韧性的过程。

And I also talk about my battle with cancer that I went through and knowing that there are challenges that come with but those are also a learning experience and a growth experience, a character building experience, and the ability to have resilience.

是的

Yeah.

当然

Absolutely.

现在，如果有人拿起你的书，只读了一章。

Now if someone picks up your book, they just read one chapter.

你希望他们对哪一章产生共鸣？为什么？

Which chapter would you want them to resonate with and why?

这是个非常好的问题。

That is a very good question.

我认为我必须和那个人交谈，才能引导他们读某一章，因为我谈到了我生活的许多不同方面，已经有很多人联系我，说他们对每一章的某些部分或他们正在经历的事情产生了共鸣。

And I think I would have to talk with that person to actually direct them to a chapter only because I talk about so many different facets of my life, and I've had a lot of people contact me that have resonated with different parts of each chapter or something that they're going through.

所以我真的需要与那个人建立联系，但我希望至少有一部分我的人生经历能与他人产生共鸣。

So, I would really have to connect with that individual, but I'm hoping that at least some part of my life can connect with others.

是的，我完全理解。

Yeah, I definitely get that.

现在，你刚刚提到了你的癌症。

Now, you just brought up your cancer.

你对此非常坦诚。

You're very open about it.

你积极推动癌症意识。

You push for cancer awareness.

你是否发现你的壁球训练赋予了你一种心态，帮助你度过了这场斗争？

Did you find that your Raquette discipline gave you a mindset that helped you get through this struggle?

确实如此。

Absolutely.

在我50岁时，被诊断出患有第三期结直肠癌，这完全出乎意料，因为50岁本应是进行常规结肠镜检查的年龄。

At the age of 50, I was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer, which came as a complete surprise, as a routine colonoscopy at the age of 50 is supposed to be done at that age.

我感到羞耻和尴尬，在确诊后一个月内都没有告诉家人——尽管当时我已经坚持素食二十五年，并且每天锻炼。

I was ashamed and I was embarrassed, and I did not tell my family for a month after being vegetarian for twenty five years at the time, exercising every day.

我发现我的铁人三项经历确实帮助我培养了接受化疗治疗所需的纪律性，让我能够严格遵循治疗方案。

I found that my Rockhead experience really helped me with the discipline of taking my chemotherapy treatment, being regimented.

在应对这一挑战的过程中，我下定决心克服一切困难，恢复健康。

And in the midst of the challenge of it, the determination to get through whatever I needed to get through to get my health back in order.

关键的问题是，你现在怎么样？

The important question, how are you now?

2019年，我被确认已无癌症。

In 2019, I was deemed cancer free.

太好了。

Oh, nice.

谢谢。

Thank you.

你希望对听众说些什么？

What would you like to tell listeners?

他们可能在拖延筛查，或者忽视了症状。

They might be putting off screenings or they might be ignoring symptoms.

你希望对他们说些什么？

What would you like to tell them?

很多人对结肠镜检查前的准备感到害怕，但我总是说，你更应该害怕的是不了解自己身体内部的情况。

A lot of people are afraid of the prep for the colonoscopy, and I always say you should be afraid of not knowing what's happening in your body.

结直肠癌在越来越年轻的成年人中被发现，而研究人员还不知道原因。

Colorectal cancer is being found in younger and younger adults, and researchers don't know why.

你必须为自己发声。

And you have to be an advocate for yourself.

如果你30岁，胃部不适或感觉不对劲，就要坚持要求做结肠镜检查。

Press for a colonoscopy if you're 30 and your stomach is not feeling right or something feels off.

如果你害怕准备过程，现在也有一些可以在家进行的检测方法。

If you're afraid of the prep, they do have different at home tests that you can do.

然而，它们的效果不如结肠镜检查。

However, they're not as effective as a colonoscopy.

此外，还有一些资源，比如结直肠癌联盟和结肠癌联盟的网站，人们可以去那里获取更多信息和帮助。

And there are resources out there, such as the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and the Colon Cancer Coalition websites that they can go to and get more information and help if needed.

这一点你完全正确。

That is something that you are 100% correct on.

发病年龄似乎确实在下降。

It does seem like the age is dropping.

我对此有自己的看法，我认为我们现在吃的食物和过去不一样了。

I have my opinion on it, and that is I think that the food that we eat is different than what it used to be.

完全正确。

Absolutely.

确实如此。

Absolutely.

我认为快餐太多了。

I think there's too much fast food.

饮食中引入了大量苏打饮料，而且研究已证实它们会让这些食物更容易让人上瘾。

There's a lot of sodas introduced into diets, and they have actually proven that they make these foods more addicting for people to eat.

是的。

Yeah.

我完全同意。

I agree wholeheartedly.

我几乎和素食者一样，只是还没完全成为素食者。

I'm as close to being a vegetarian as you can be without being one.

是的。

Yes.

我的饮食包含大量植物性蛋白质和食物。

My diet includes a lot of plant based proteins and foods.

我相信你必须非常清楚自己吃的是什么、往身体里输入了什么，因为这会影响一切。

I believe you have to be very aware of what you're eating and what you're putting in your body because it affects everything.

当然。

Absolutely.

凡事都要适度。

Everything in moderation.

如果你能选择更健康的饮食，当然，我们都喜欢节日。

If you can eat on the healthier spectrum, of course, we all love the holidays.

稍微放纵一下。

Flourge a little bit.

犒劳一下自己。

Treat yourself.

但从长远来看，你知道，健康就是财富。

But for the long game, you know, health is your wealth.

是的。

Yes.

没错。

Exactly.

现在你创造了跳舞的珍玩偶。

Now you created the Dancing Jen doll.

是的。

Yeah.

你能给我们介绍一下这个吗？

Can you give us a little information about that?

好的。

Yes.

我创作了跳舞的珍玩偶，因为我希望孩子们在阅读我的儿童读物时，能有一个可以握在手中的实体物件，提醒他们思想会变成现实，要大胆追梦，勇敢追求自己想要的生活。

My Dancing Jen doll, I created her because I wanted something tangible that the kids could hold on to along with my children's book, knowing that thoughts become things, dream big, go after what you want in life.

所以我创造了跳舞的珍，它现在可以在沃尔玛电商平台购买到。

So I created dancing Jen, and she's available on Walmart Marketplace.

它只是一个让孩子们可以握在手中、记住永不放弃的象征。

And she's just something that the kids can hold onto and remember to never give up.

是的。

Yeah.

当然。

Absolutely.

你已经激励了很多人，包括舞者、读者和癌症康复者。

Now, you've inspired a lot of people, dancers, readers, cancer survivors.

如果今天有位年轻表演者来见你，你会给他们什么建议？

If a young performer was to come up to you today, what advice would you give to them?

对于任何年轻的舞者，或者生活中的任何孩子，都要始终刻苦训练。

For any young dancer or any any young child in life is always train hard.

教育非常重要，无论你进入哪个领域。

Education is very important, and no matter what field you go into.

如果你是舞者，就要精通你的技艺。

If you're a dancer, know your craft.

要参加所有方面的课程，包括现代舞、踢踏舞、爵士舞和芭蕾舞。

Take your classes in every aspect, modern, tap, jazz, ballet.

当你感到紧张时，那种不适感正是成长的表现。

And when you're nervous, that uncomfortable feeling is the growth.

你不应该一直停留在舒适区，紧张是挑战的一部分，克服紧张，走上舞台。

You don't wanna stay comfortable, and being nervous is part of the challenge, getting over the nerves, going on the stage.

但如果你真心想要这样，就全心全意地生活，那些不适的时刻正是你成长的契机。

But if that's what you want, live your life full heartedly, and those uncomfortable moments is your growth moment.

回顾你所做的一切，经历过的种种考验和人生起伏，如果你能对年轻的自己说一句话，提醒你避免某些事或该做些什么，你会给年轻的自己什么建议？

Now with everything that you've done, all the hoops you've had to jump through, all the different things that have happened in your life, if you were to tell your younger self, hey, you need to avoid this, or hey, you need to do this, what would you give your younger self for advice?

你知道吗，假期期间我找到了一些小时候的照片，看着当时的自己，我简直无法想象我的人生会变成今天这样。

You know, over the holidays, I I found pictures of me as a child, and I was looking at myself, and I could not imagine that my life would turn out the way it has.

我无法改变我生命中的任何事情，因为每一件事都是成长和学习的经历。

I cannot change anything in my life because everything has been a growth experience, a learning experience.

那些挑战最终都变成了胜利。

Those challenges turned into triumph.

如果我没有经历那些曲折和转折，我就不会拥有今天的成就。

And if I did not take those twists and turns, I would not be where I am today.

是的。

Yeah.

现在告诉我，你如何定义成功？

Now tell me, how do you define success?

每个人对成功的感受都不尽相同。

Everyone has their feelings of what they feel is successful.

如果我能到达这里，如果我能到达那里，那我就成功了。

If I can get here, if I can get there, then I'm successful.

那么，你的定义是什么？

So what's your definition?

哇。

Wow.

你知道吗，随着我年龄的增长，成功的层次也在不断变化。

You know, there are different levels throughout as I'm aging, different levels of success.

我一直想登上一个宏伟的舞台，而我有幸在无线电城音乐厅表演了整整十五年。

I wanted to, you know, dance on a grand stage, and I got a chance to do that at Radio City Music Hall for a beautiful fifteen years.

我实现了童年时在百老汇演出的梦想。

I got my childhood dream of performing on Broadway.

多年来，我一直想以‘火箭女郎传承’之名白纸黑字地写下来，如今这已成为一项辉煌的成就。

For years, I wanted to write down in black and white by Rockette Legacy, and I have that becoming spectacular.

现在我依然怀有梦想和追求。

And now I still have dreams and aspirations.

因此，对我来说，成功的标准并没有消失。

So that I don't think for me that success level has gone away.

我仍然希望‘成为辉煌’能被制作成一部作品，并在大银幕上呈现。

I still want becoming spectacular to become a production and be seen on the big screen.

我很希望能为孩子们创作一部动画片。

I'd love to have a cartoon from on the line for children.

所以我庆祝自己的每一次胜利和成就，但我仍然有追求的目标。

So I celebrate each of my wins, each of my triumphs, but there are still things I aspire to.

当你回顾自己的职业生涯，从火箭女郎舞者到成功作家，回顾你所走过的旅程，有哪些事情至今仍让你感到最惊讶？

When you look back at your career from the Rockettes to a successful author, when you look at the journey that you've traveled, what are some of the things that still surprise you the most?

我想是我当初不了解火箭女郎的历史就去参加试镜，站在试镜队伍里，没有看到其他黑人女性，当时心里想着

I think me not knowing the Rockette history and going to the audition and standing on the audition line, not seeing another black woman and thinking,

你知道，他们永远不会雇用我。

you know, they're never gonna hire me.

我...我需要

I I I need to

去上我最喜欢的爵士舞课。

go take my favorite jazz class.

而我内心的声音又把我推回到火箭女郎的队列中。

And my inner voice pushing me back to stay on that rockette line.

我认为这最令人惊讶，因为它真的让我学会倾听自己的直觉和内心感受。

I think that is the most surprising thing because that really allowed me to, like, listen to my inner instinct and my gut feeling.

如果我当时没有坚持在试镜队伍里，我永远也不可能站上火箭女郎的舞台。

And if I did not stay on that audition line, I never would have made it to the Rockette line.

所以我鼓励每个人去倾听内心的那个声音，因为它永远不会带你走错路。

So I encourage everyone to like listen to that gut voice that they have because it'll never steer you wrong.

未来有什么计划？

What's on the horizon?

你觉得自己在未来三到五年会是什么样子？

Where do you see yourself in the next three to five years?

我理想中的目标是能制作出一部精彩的作品，搬上大银幕，或者在流媒体平台上推出一部剧集。

Oh, my thought where I I would love to be, I would love to have, a production up and going of becoming spectacular, putting that on, a big screen or having a series on a streaming channel.

我确实有个想法，想写一本面向中年级或青少年的书，希望它能进入一些学校。

I do have an idea for writing a middle grade or a young adult book, so I would like to see maybe that out in some schools.

而且我非常喜欢表演，也许我将来会在电视上出演角色。

And, I love to act, so maybe I'll be on TV acting somewhere.

那太好了。

That would be great.

你目前在做什么？

What are you currently doing?

嗯，我很享受和你交谈，这是我这段旅程的一部分。

Well, I'm enjoying talking with you in this journey that I'm on.

我即将参加2月19日在好莱坞博物馆举行的《The Joint Is Jumpin'》首映活动，同时我正在撰写那本面向青少年和中年级的书，也依然希望有制作公司对《becoming spectacular》这个项目感兴趣。

I'm going out to The Joint Is Jumpin', the Hollywood Museum, February 19 for the opening, and I am working on that young adult middle grade book and still hoping to get a production company interested in becoming spectacular.

好的。

Okay.

那么告诉我，你会用什么词来形容你迄今为止的旅程？

So tell me, what is the word you would use to describe your journey so far?

我只能说，太精彩了。

I would have to say spectacular.

是的。

Yeah.

我的人生就像每个人一样，充满了起起落落，但我的人生确实非凡。

My life has been, a ripple of ups and downs, such as everyone's life, but my life is truly spectacular.

是的。

Yeah.

人们即使你没问，也会给你建议。

People will give you advice even when you don't ask them.

你收到过什么好的建议吗？

What is a good piece of advice that you were given?

我收到的最好的建议是，其实有很多。

The best piece of advice that I received is there there's been a lot.

已故的弗兰克·哈切特。

The late Frank Hatchett.

他是我在百老汇舞蹈中心的爵士舞老师和导师，正是在那里，我开始了对这个行业方方面面的学习之旅。

He was my my jazz teacher and my mentor at Broadway Dance Center, and that's where I started my journey of learning the ins and outs of the business.

我记得刚开始上他的中级爵士舞课时。

And I remembered starting to take his intermediate jazz class.

我总是待在后面。

I would always stay in the back.

有一次，他把我拉到前面，让我和那些所谓的优秀舞者一起做组合动作。

And this one time, he pulled me up front to do the combination with all the, quote, unquote, the good dancers.

他告诉我，永远不要待在后面。

And he told me, don't ever stay in the back.

这极大地增强了我的自信，让我敢于站到前面，帮助我参加试镜，给了我勇气去大胆展示自己。

And so that really fostered my confidence to come up to the front and help me go on auditions, gave me that that confidence to go on auditions and really put myself out there.

是的。

Yeah.

音乐是你生活中很重要的一部分，因为你随着音乐跳舞。

Now music is a big part of your life because you dance to it.

当你情绪低落时，有一首歌能让你振作起来，重新找回状态，是哪一首呢？

What is a song that if you're in a bad mood, you just need something to turn you around, get yourself back on track?

哪一首歌能让你打起精神，重新行动起来？

What is that one song that will pick you up and get you going?

你知道那首歌《September》吗

Do you know the song, September

是的

Yeah.

由Earth, Wind & Fire演唱的那首？

By Earth Wind and Fire?

我一放这首歌就会开始跳舞，瞬间就能改变我的心情。

I can put that on and just start dancing, and that'll, like, change my mood in a second.

我超爱这首歌。

I love it.

你现在还跳舞吗，还是把它放一边，专心做其他事情了？

Are you still dancing now, or are you putting that off to the side so you can focus on all these other things?

我并不一定专业跳舞。

I don't necessarily dance professionally.

我会在婚礼上和厨房里跳舞，但我非常活跃。

I dance at weddings and in my kitchen, but I am very active.

我练习高温瑜伽。

I practice hot yoga.

我是个跑步者。

I'm a runner.

我去健身房。

I go to the gym.

那种运动仍然让我身体里有种痒痒的感觉。

That movement is still, you know, has that itch in my body.

你目前最想实现或追求的那个梦想项目是什么？

What is that one dream project that you still would like to have or go after?

哇哦。

Wow.

你知道的。

You know?

我一直想成为像美宝莲那样的代言人，做个封面女郎代言人。

I've always wanted to be like a Maybelline, you know, endorser, a cover girl endorser.

我一直就想成为上面那些女士中的一员。

I've always just kind of wanted to be one of those one of those ladies up there.

是的。

Yeah.

对。

Yeah.

当然，没有什么比在纽约市无线电城音乐厅与火箭女郎一起跳舞更棒的了。

Now, of course, there's nothing better than dancing with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

除此之外，你最喜欢演出的地方是哪里？

Other than that, what is one of your more favorite places that you've performed?

我最喜欢的一次演出是在底特律的福克斯剧院。

One of my favorite places that I performed was at the Fox Theater in Detroit.

我当时和苏珊·安东尼一起巡演，担任火箭女郎的演员。

I was on tour with the Rockettes with Susan Anton headlining the show.

编舞由莫里斯·海恩斯和乔·莱顿负责。

It was choreographed by Maurice Hines and Joe Layton.

我们在底特律停留，演出就在福克斯剧院。

And we stopped in Detroit, and it was at the Fox Theater.

首演之夜，艾瑞莎·弗兰克林给火箭女郎送来了玫瑰。

Opening night, Aretha Franklin sent the Rockettes roses.

哇。

Wow.

我知道。

I know.

那真是太棒了。

It was amazing.

那是一个美丽的剧院，也是一次难忘的经历。

So that was a beautiful theater and a memorable experience.

是的。

Yeah.

你在百老汇最难忘的记忆是什么？

What's one of your favorite Broadway memories?

对我来说是表演还是观看？

For me performing or watching?

都可以，或者两者都行。

Either one or both.

哦，我最喜欢的之一是《42街》复排版的首演之夜。

Oh, one of my favorites is opening night of 42nd Street, the revival.

那是我童年的梦想，首演之夜。

My childhood dream, opening night.

我母亲当时也在场。

My mother was there.

我祖母也在那里。

My grandmother was there.

她们和我一起参加了开幕之夜的派对。

They went to the opening night party with me.

她们是我生命中非常坚定的支持者。

They were such staunch supporters in my life.

我的孩子们还很小。

My children were very young.

他们会帮我照看他们，当我工作时他们会照顾他们。

They would help me watch them, and they would take care of them when I was working.

我非常高兴能分享这一切，尤其是想到我母亲多年来带我去观看所有百老汇演出。

I was so happy to be able to share that, especially with my mother bringing me to all those Broadway shows all those years.

当你听到Rawcats这个名字时，第一个浮现在脑海的词是什么？

What's the first word that comes to mind when you hear the name Rawcats?

优雅。

Elegance.

好的。

Okay.

好吧。

All right.

我无法不同意你的看法。

I cannot disagree with you there.

好的。

Okay.

现在我有个问题要问你。

Now here's a question for you.

百老汇还是无线电城音乐厅？

Broadway or Radio City Music Hall?

如果你有机会选择，你更愿意在哪个地方表演？

Which one would you rather perform on if you had the choice?

以我现在的年纪，如今这个年龄。

At my age, at this age today.

以我现在的年纪，百老汇更适合我的身体状况。

At this age today, Broadway would be more fitting to my body.

是的。

Yeah.

我明白。

I get that.

是的。

Yeah.

粉丝们对你说了些什么，或者他们走过来赞美你，或者他们可能会说些什么？

What are some of the things that fans have said to you or they come up to you and give you compliments or whatever they might say?

在所有别人对你说过的话中，真正让你产生共鸣的是什么？

What really resonates with you out of all the things that you've been told?

激励，说我激励了他们。

Inspiration, that I inspire them.

是的。

Yeah.

这话说得真好。

That's a nice thing to say.

我想我也会记住这样的事。

I think that I would remember something like that as well.

没错。

Yeah.

你最想与谁合作演出？

Who is your dream collaboration you would like to perform with?

谁在你的名单上？

Who is on that list?

可以是过去的或现在的。

And it can be past or present.

你知道，《魔法绿巨人》的整个剧组在我的成长过程中起到了至关重要的作用。

Well, you know, the cast of The Wiz was really, fundamental in my formative years.

所以，皮恩·巴特尔、安德烈·德·谢尔兹、斯蒂芬妮·米尔斯、梅贝尔·金、杰弗里·霍勒——这些伟大的艺术家们在我心中播下了种子，让我知道我也可以做到。

So pin battle, Andre De Shields, Stephanie Mills, Mabel King, Jeffrey Holder, any one of those greats that really planted that seed to let me know that I can do this too.

那么告诉我，你的愿望清单上有什么？

So tell me, what's in your bucket list?

在这次对话中，你已经提到了好几件事。

You've mentioned several things throughout this conversation.

现在，你真正希望实现的是什么？

Now what is there that you really hope that you can do?

嗯嗯。

Uh-huh.

有太多事情了，但我真的特别希望有一天能开车去洛杉矶，前往我自己的制作公司正在拍摄的电影片场，感受那种氛围，纯粹地做着我脑海里设想的一切，把心中的愿景变成现实。

There are so many things, but I really I really would love to, like, be in LA driving to the set of my production company of the film that we're making and just feeling that vibe and just being just doing what I what I have in my head and just being in that what I have in my mind and making that a reality.

《Rawcast》在节日期间非常有名。

The Rawcast is so well known around the holidays.

你最喜爱的节日回忆是什么？

What is one of your favorite holiday memories?

当然，我多年来在圣诞节期间出演《Rockhead》时，看到许多家庭带着他们的传统前来观看演出。

Well, of course, all of my years performing during Christmas shows as a Rockhead and seeing, like, the families and the family traditions that would come in to see the show.

我能看到前几排观众，看到孩子们在我们表演玩具士兵、士兵倒下、高踢腿时，眼睛里闪烁出的惊喜、感动与光芒。

And I would be able to see the first few rows in the house and seeing children's eyes light up when we did the toy soldier and the soldier fall and the eye high kicks and just the awe and the inspiration and the light that just came over the children's faces.

那时，我还会去欣赏那棵美丽的摇滚中心圣诞树。

And then just going out and seeing the beautiful rock center Christmas tree at that time also.

如果你没有成为表演者，你现在会做什么？

If you had not become a performer, what do you think you'd be doing now?

哦，我不知道。

Oh, I don't know.

也许我会开一家舞蹈工作室。

Maybe I would have a dance studio.

好的。

Okay.

也许现在我已经把它改造成一家瑜伽馆了。

Maybe I'm heavily transformed that into a yoga studio by now.

我不知道。

I don't know.

但我会想象自己从事某种非常活跃的事业。

But something I can imagine very active.

是的。

Yeah.

这真不错。

That's really good.