Disciplined as a Dancer, Less So With Her Diet

Jasmine Guy is feeling like a veteran performer these days and she’s all of 32.

The actress-dancer, perhaps best known as Whitley Gilbert on the sitcom “A Different World,” has worn ballet slippers since she was 5.

These days Guy, who runs her own production company, Black & White Productions, volunteers weekly as ballet instructor at A Place Called Home, a gang prevention center in South-Central Los Angeles.

“I’ve got to tell you, their spirit at A Place Called Home has just kept me going. They’re so into it and I thought I’d get a lot of attitudes. You know, they’re teenagers and I thought they’d be sucking their teeth and rolling their eyes.”

Question: That’s half the battle if they’re into it. Ballet can be frustrating.

Answer: They get frustrated but they go back and do it again and that’s all I ask, you know what I mean. And that’s for any kid. This has nothing to do with being in South-Central.

Q: This is your first time teaching. Has anything thrown you?

A: I give the boys and the men separate arm movements and variations on ballet, so my little behind is up there trying to dance like a man. I’ve asked three male dancers that I know to teach and that’s going to help. And now my biggest thing is to get them to take their socks off.

Q: Why’s that a big deal?

A: Why they won’t, I don’t know, but I don’t want them to bust their butts on that floor. It’s this thing about their feet. You’d think you’d asked them to take off their shirts.

Q: Are you making any progress?

A: Well, I saw a few more toes in my third class, so I think slowly I’m going to overwhelm them. I have flashbacks of Leroy in “Fame.” Remember he would never wear tights? But I’m fine. I just want them in there and then as time goes by we’ll get the leotards and maybe some sweatpants.

Q: Are you a pretty strict instructor?

A: We do all the ballet routines, but I don’t think I’m a good disciplinarian. I mean, I don’t want to be like Debbie Allen with that stick in her hand in that first scene of “Fame” where she’s going, “You’ve got to sweat and you’ve got to give your blood.”

Q: Are you exercising outside of class?

A: Yes, I take some dance classes and I’m doing Pilates for flexibility, stretch and muscle tone. Sometimes I walk up the canyons because that works your butt and your thighs and you work up a sweat. Don’t like running though. I don’t think it’s good jiggling all your organs like that.

Q: Let’s talk about food. Are you a good eater?

A: I’m a bad eater.

Q: How so?

A: I don’t eat enough and that’s not good. It doesn’t necessarily keep you thin because then you overeat. For example, when I’m really hungry I want some fried chicken. I want some grits and biscuits. Or a steak.

Q: So you eat. You’re just not particularly disciplined.

A: I like good food. I like fruit and vegetables. I love fish. I love chicken. I’ll eat meat and salads.

Q: Do you start off with breakfast?

A: Lately I’ve been trying to eat oatmeal and I have protein drinks, too, with a little milk and ice in the blender. Sometimes I’ll add yogurt and that’s just like a milkshake. And I take my vitamins. Don’t ask me why I’m taking the ones I’m doing. I’m going to a nutritionist in a couple of weeks. I’m kind of excited about that.

Q: Maybe get yourself on a regular diet.

A: Yeah. I’m going to tell her, “If you tell me no dairy, no meat, no no no no, I’m just not going to do it.” I don’t like to be deprived. And being a dancer for so long I don’t need to be starving myself all the time.

Guest Workout runs Wednesdays in Life & Style.