Editing Jennifer Lopez (section)

===1989–1996: Professional dancing and early acting roles===
Lopez's first professional job came in 1989 when she spent five months touring Europe with the musical revue show ''Golden Musicals of Broadway''. She was upset at being the only member of the [[Ensemble (musical theatre)|chorus]] not to have a solo, and later characterized it as a pivotal moment where she had to "try harder and become that much more committed".<ref>{{harvnb|Tracy|2008|p=7}}</ref><ref name="LA Times 99"/> In 1990, she danced alongside [[MC Hammer]] in an episode of ''[[Yo! MTV Raps]]'',<ref>{{cite news |title=Jennifer Lopez left red-faced! |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/jennifer-lopez-left-red-faced/story-45GFPXACpySC1FPPAFpXcI.html |access-date=June 15, 2021 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=April 25, 2010}}</ref> and traveled around Japan for four months as a chorus member in ''Synchronicity''.<ref name=actorsstudio/> When she returned to the United States, she was hired as a backup dancer for [[New Kids on the Block]]'s performance of "[[Games (New Kids on the Block song)|Games]]" at the [[American Music Awards of 1991|1991 American Music Awards]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Perricon|first=Kathleen|title=Jennifer Lopez dances with New Kids on the Block in 1991 video clip|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/jennifer-lopez-dances-new-kids-block-1991-video-clip-article-1.141080|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 26, 2021|date=May 10, 2011|archive-date=December 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226185649/https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/jennifer-lopez-dances-new-kids-block-1991-video-clip-article-1.141080|url-status=live}}</ref> She also traveled around America with regional productions of the musicals ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' and ''[[Oklahoma!]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jennifer Lopez The Crossover Dream Comes True |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/19991101jennifer_lopez_jennifer_lopez_the_crossover_dream_comes_true |access-date=June 12, 2021 |publisher=[[Broadcast Music, Inc.]] |date=October 31, 1999 |archive-date=June 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612064233/https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/19991101jennifer_lopez_jennifer_lopez_the_crossover_dream_comes_true |url-status=live }}</ref> During this period, Lopez also danced in music videos including [[Doug E. Fresh]]'s "Summertime", Richard Rogers' "Can't Stop Loving You", [[EPMD]]'s "[[Rampage (song)|Rampage]]",<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reid |first1=Shaheem |title=Is that really LL Cool J in EPMD's "Rampage" video? Parrish addresses an urban legend |url=https://www.revolt.tv/2017/9/28/20820481/is-that-really-ll-cool-j-in-epmd-s-rampage-video-parrish-addresses-an-urban-legend |access-date=June 15, 2021 |publisher=[[Revolt (TV network)|Revolt]] |date=September 28, 2017 |archive-date=September 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922045036/https://www.revolt.tv/2017/9/28/20820481/is-that-really-ll-cool-j-in-epmd-s-rampage-video-parrish-addresses-an-urban-legend |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Samantha Fox]]'s "[[(Hurt Me! Hurt Me!) But the Pants Stay On]]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roth |first1=Jaclyn |title=Samantha Fox Reveals She Discovered Jennifer Lopez, Cast Her In Video |url=https://okmagazine.com/p/samantha-fox-reveals-discovered-jennifer-lopez-casting-music-video/ |website=[[OK!]] |access-date=February 25, 2024 |date=December 23, 2022 |archive-date=February 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225014333/https://okmagazine.com/p/samantha-fox-reveals-discovered-jennifer-lopez-casting-music-video/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lopez stated: "I'd dance in a piece-of-garbage rap or pop video for 50 bucks and make the money last a whole month."<ref>{{harvnb|Parish|2009|p=23}}</ref>

Her most high-profile job as a professional dancer was as a [[List of In Living Color cast members#Fly Girls (house dance troupe)|Fly Girl]] [[jazz-funk dance]]r on the sketch comedy television series ''[[In Living Color]]''. The show's choreographer, [[Rosie Perez]] said she chose Lopez because "she had that look that I knew the audience would tune in to".<ref name="Parish27">{{harvnb|Parish|2009|p=27}}</ref> Lopez moved to Los Angeles in late 1991 for the job; she filmed ''In Living Color'' during the day and attended acting classes taught by Aaron Speiser at night.<ref name=actorsstudio/> Lopez felt ostracized by the other Fly Girls because of her "voluptuous figure", and also clashed with Perez.<ref name="Parish27" /> The head of [[Virgin Records]] considered signing The Fly Girls as a girl group to rival the [[Spice Girls]], but the deal fell apart.<ref name="LA Times 99"/> After appearing as a Fly Girl in seasons three and four of ''In Living Color'', Lopez left to work as a backup dancer for [[Janet Jackson]], and appeared in the music video for "[[That's the Way Love Goes (Janet Jackson song)|That's the Way Love Goes]]".<ref name="LA Times 99"/> She was scheduled to tour with Jackson on her [[Janet World Tour]] in late 1993 but opted to pursue an acting career instead.<ref>{{cite news|title=Living Single|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gCYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA100|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621010705/https://books.google.com/books?id=gCYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA100|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 21, 2020|work=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|access-date=July 6, 2012|page=100|date=May 2001}}</ref> Lopez hired ''In Living Color'' producer Eric Gold as her manager. He advised Lopez to lose weight if she wanted to succeed as an actress.<ref>{{harvnb|Parish|2009|p=29}}</ref>

Lopez's first professional acting job was a small recurring role on the television show ''[[South Central (TV series)|South Central]]'' (1994). She was invited to audition for the pilot by a casting director who had seen her speak to camera during a behind-the-scenes ''In Living Color'' segment.<ref name=actorsstudio/> She then acquired an agent and was cast in the [[CBS]] show ''[[Second Chances (American TV series)|Second Chances]]''; the series was quickly cancelled, but her popularity with viewers led to her being cast in its spin-off ''[[Hotel Malibu]]''.<ref>{{harvnb|Woog|2020|p=28}}</ref> She subsequently appeared in the television film ''[[Lost in the Wild]]'' (1993).<ref>{{harvnb|Parish|2009|p=30}}</ref> For her first major movie role, in [[Gregory Nava]]'s 1995 drama ''[[My Family (1995 film)|Mi Familia]]'', Lopez received a nomination for the [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female|Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress]].<ref>{{harvnb|Parish|2009|p=36}}</ref> She then starred in the action comedy ''[[Money Train]]'' (1995). The film was not a box office success, though her performance was reviewed positively,<ref name="Marquez 1">{{harvnb|Marquez|2001|p=54}}</ref> which led to her being further noticed in Hollywood.<ref>{{harvnb|Parish|2009|p=38}}</ref> In 1996, Lopez had a supporting role opposite [[Robin Williams]] in the comedy ''[[Jack (1996 film)|Jack]]'', which director [[Francis Ford Coppola]] cast her in after seeing her performance in ''Mi Familia''.<ref name="Marquez 1" /> She next starred opposite [[Jack Nicholson]] in the neo-noir thriller ''[[Blood and Wine]]'' (1996), where David Rooney of ''Variety'' felt she delivered in "juggling" the "smoldering and soulful sides" of the character.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rooney |first1=David |title=Blood and Wine |url=https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/blood-and-wine-1200446651/ |access-date=July 7, 2021 |work=Variety |date=September 24, 1996 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190122/https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/blood-and-wine-1200446651/ |url-status=live }}</ref>