Jasmine Guy

Cynthia

Jasmine Guy is where art and beauty come together. Combined with wit and intelligence, she touches all artistic genres and scales ranging from actor, dancer, choreographer, singer and writer. Jasmine’s creativity continues to grow, develop and expand from developing Whitley Gilbert into the centerpiece of A Different World, to starring on Broadway as Velma Kelly in Chicago, to writing the life struggles of Afeni Shakur, the mother of Tupac Skakur in Evolution of a Revolutionary. In every way, she bespeaks excellence.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 10^th, Jasmine’s family lived in Westchester County, New York and later moved to Atlanta, Georgia. It was there that Jasmine studied dance at Spelman College Dance School until age 12. She continued her studies with Atlanta Ballet and danced for the Atlanta Ballet Company. At age 17, Jasmine was awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Alvin Ailey American Dance Center.

In 1982, Jasmine left the Ailey Dance Company to perform in the television series Fame. In 1987 she joined the cast of A Different World; a television sitcom about African American college students. This spin-off to the Cosby Show saw Jasmine as the snobby southern belle, Whitley Gilbert. Her portrayal of Whitley earned her six consecutive NAACP Image Awards. In addition, she appeared in the NBC miniseries Queen and danced solo for the 62nd Annual Academy Awards. Jasmine’s television credits also include episodic shows such as NYPDBlue, Fresh Prince, Melrose Place, Living Single, Touched by an Angel and That’s So Raven. Most recently Jasmine has played the role of Roxy, the no-holds-barred metermaid on the hit Showtime program, Dead Like Me.

Jasmine’s career is highlighted with the on and off Broadway musicals, Dancin’ in the Streets; the Motown Review performed in Boston; the European tour of Bubblin Brown Sugar; The Broadway revival of The Wiz with Stephanie Mills; on Broadway in Leader of the Pack, directed by famed choreographer Michael Peters; and Beehive, a play about women of the sixties at The Village Gate in New York. Her current theatrical productions include The Fourposter, starring Jasmine and acclaimed actor Keith David, opening in November 2007 at the Stamford Performing Arts Center in Connecticut.

Jasmine is also very proud of Raisin’ Cane, a one-woman tour-de- force performance about the Harlem Renaissance that reviewers dubbed “A wonderful night of EDUTAINMENT!”

Jasmine’s movie credits include School Daze, by Spike Lee; Harlem Nights with Eddie Murphy; America’s Dream, with Wesley Snipes, in a story about a boy who painted Jesus Christ black; Boy Meets Girl, directed by Kevin Sullivan; and Stompin’ at the Savoy, directed by Debbie Allen. In the independent film genre she can be seen in Kla$h, alongside Giancarlo Esposito in the role of Blossom, a dancehall girl desperate to leave Jamaica; Guinevere, with Sarah Polly, Steven Rhea and Sandra Oh, and Diamond Men, with Donnie Wahlberg and Robert Forster.

Musically, 1992 saw the debut of Jasmine Guy’s self-titled album with Warner Brothers, and she is also featured on soundtracks for School Daze, Beehive, Leader of the Pack and Kla$h.

In 2005 Jasmine was asked by The Honorable Michael Misick, Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands to produce a unique film festival for his country. Now, in its second year, the Turks & Caicos International Film Festival celebrates movies from all over the world that best marry music and cinema. Festival attendees enjoy nightly screenings on the beach, and mingle with the stars by day. This year, festival honorees include: Mos Def, Marc Shaiman and Zoe Kravitz.

Currently Jasmine is a moving force for the Movement of Agape Dance Ministry; and, she works closely with several organizations: A Place Called Home, a south central Los Angeles community center where she began a thriving dance and arts program and she serves on the board; Women at Risk, for women living with HIV; Beautiful Gate, Wilmington, Delaware HIV awareness and prevention center focusing on African-American women; Fragile X, research and resources for families living with children for Fragile X; the Jackie Robinson Foundation which honors full college scholarships and mentorship programs; and, the Jenessee House, a shelter for abused women and their children.

Jasmine lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.