Only a few years after his commencement from the Glorya Kaufman College of Dance on the College of Southern California, Jakevis Thomason booked the dream gig for a lot of a business dancemaker: choreographing for Beyoncé. After making a viral dance video to Queen Bey’s “Black Parade,” Thomason was approached by the artist’s crew to set the music’s choreography on her dancers for final yr’s Renaissance tour. His work is deeply musical, concurrently full of luxurious particulars and full-bodied actions—permitting it to translate completely from movie to area.
Thomason has additionally choreographed for Brandy and has carried out with a slew of massive names, like Kali Uchis, Jack Harlow, Lil Nas X, and FKA twigs. He’s choreographed within the live performance dance house for Whim W’him and is a hip-hop trainer at CLI Conservatory. Nevertheless it’s not simply his star-studded resumé that makes this artist stand out. Thomason possesses real star energy and humble approachability, making him magnetic onstage and off
Age: 26
Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina
Coaching: Dianne’s College of Dance, Glorya Kaufman College of Dance on the College of Southern California (BFA in dance)
Accolades: fifth Annual JK March Insanity Winner (choreography competitors hosted by JaQuel Knight)
Drive and dedication: Stuffed with boundless power as a baby, Thomason studied at Dianne’s College of Dance in his hometown from age 3 till faculty. As he started to get extra critical concerning the artwork kind—“Beyoncé was my first live performance,” he says, “and ever since then, I used to be like, ‘I wish to dance’ ”—the value tag for participation continued to extend. “My mother was working rather a lot, however she’s a single guardian, so she couldn’t actually afford to pay for that a lot dance. I’d work on the studio and educate courses, simply to assist afford competitions and conventions.”
He will get it from his mama: Thomason and his mom (a comic and radio persona) share a detailed bond, and he credit each her and his grandmother with educating him about work ethic and perseverance. “My mother is aware of how one can make issues occur,” he says, explaining that watching her taught him to be the identical approach. “My mother can also be a really large dreamer, so us collectively—the world is actually ours.”
What his mentor is saying: “What’s nice about Jakevis is a mixture of his mind, being extraordinarily proficient, and being open to studying—and he’s a genuinely humble and good particular person,” says Emmy-nominated choreographer Christian Vincent, a former USC professor who has been a mentor to Thomason. “To be type and human and proficient on the identical time is exemplary.”
Movie buff: At USC, Thomason had concentrations in enterprise, choreography, and cinema, so it’s not shocking that you just’ll doubtless discover him on the films on his days off. “It’s one thing about with the ability to escape for an hour or two and simply dive into this story and the way it’s being informed,” he says, including that his favourite films are normally psychological thrillers with a great twist. He may even see himself including digicam work to his resumé. “Dance is a type of issues that may all the time lead you into another path that’s nonetheless influenced by motion—I can undoubtedly see myself additionally working behind the digicam or going into cinematography.”
