She’s a mega successful star worth million of dollars.

But that wasn’t always the case for Jennifer Lopez, 47, who struggled for years as a dancer before making it big in Hollywood.

The talented performer, who serves as an executive producer on the new NBC dance competition show World of Dance, told reporters at the NBC summer press day that the show takes her back to her roots.

Jennifer Lopez, 47, who struggled for years as a dancer before making it big in Hollywood, discussed her early experiences as a dancer during the NBC summer press day on Monday.

‘I always consider myself as a dancer first. I became a singer and actress after dancing. For me, it’s so part of who I am,’ she explained.

Before Jennifer Lopez catapulted to fame as an actress and singer, she earned her mettle on the dance floor in 1991 as a Fly Girl on TV’s In Living Color.

She reveals she struggled every day in her early days as a dancer as she was making very little money.

‘I remember only getting to have one piece of pizza every day when I was a dancer,’ she said. ‘That’s how I lived. I did that for a couple of years before I got my first big job. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. For me, coming from that struggle, this is a dream come true for me. I don’t say that lightly.’

Double duty: The talented performer serves as an executive producer as well as a judge on the new NBC dance competition show World of Dance

Early struggles: She didn’t get paid a lot for dancing early in her career and admits she survived on a single slice of pizza every day

Early success: It was In Living Color that gave J-Lo her big break as a Fly Girl dancer in 1991 on the hit Fox series, where she performed with a troupe routines that flanked commercials

In addition to serving as executive producer, Lopez will also act as a judge.

It’s not her first time judging a competition show as she recently came off serving as a judge on American Idol for the past five seasons.

She admits she learned a lot from that experience.

‘When I did ‘American Idol,’ I learned so many people can sing, but not everyone can make you get up and dance or make you cry,’ she explained. ‘That makes you an artist.’

Guiding young talent: In a teaser shared Friday on her Instagram page, the entertainer offered some guidance to a youngster on the show

Summer entertainment: The pop star will appear alongside Derek Hough, Ne-Yo and Jenna Dewan Tatum who will host the NBC show debuting on May 8 at 10 p.m

In a teaser shared Friday on her Instagram page, the entertainer offered some guidance to a youngster: ‘I started as a dancer,’ she recalled, ‘and if you want to win that million dollars, the audience has to feel something.’

The pop star will appear alongside Derek Hough, Ne-Yo and Jenna Dewan Tatum who will host the NBC show debuting on May 8 at 10 p.m.

Solo artists, duos and groups will compete in all genres of dance such as hip hop, krumping, popping, locking, tap, ballet, break dancing, ballroom, clogging, stomping and more.

The winner receives a $1 million grand prize.

Hard work! Solo artists, duos and groups will compete in all genres of dance such as hip hop, krumping, popping, locking, tap, ballet, break dancing, ballroom, clogging, stomping and more

‘This will be a fierce talent-heavy dance competition that embraces the raw emotion and excitement that dance represents,’ J-Lo explained to Variety.

‘I am excited to work with World Of Dance, an organization that has had an immeasurable impact on the dance community, to give all dancers an enormous platform where their dreams can be realized.’

Indeed, dance is the platform where Jennifer’s own dreams were realized.

It was In Living Color that gave J-Lo her big break as a Fly Girl dancer in 1991 on the hit Fox series, where she performed with a troupe routines that flanked commercials.

Early entertainment days: Jennifer Lopez joined In Living Color as a Fly Girl during its third season

The best of both worlds: In 1993 Jennifer acted in an intro segment and performed as a backup dancer in Janet Jackson’s music video That’s The Way Love Goes

The Shades Of Blue star got to embrace her love of dance and acting in 1993 when she appeared in Janet Jackson’s music video That’s The Way Love Goes.

She showcased her spitfire personality in the opening dialogue segment.

That same year she focused on her acting career and later scored a breakthrough with the lead role in 1997’s Selena biopic.

And she earned the title triple threat with her foray into music, which was a success from the beginning with her 1999 debut solo album On The 6 and its No. 1 single If You Had My Love.

She’s going back to her roots as executive producer and judge of the primetime dance competition show

Source: dailymail.co.uk