Just some 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 staff to set the tune’s choreography on her dancers for final 12 months’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 enviornment.
Thomason has additionally choreographed for Brandy and has carried out with a slew of huge 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 instructor at CLI Conservatory. But it surely’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 willpower: Crammed 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 in regards to the artwork type—“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 so much, however she’s a single mother or father, so she couldn’t actually afford to pay for that a lot dance. I might 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 character) share a detailed bond, and he credit each her and his grandmother with instructing him about work ethic and perseverance. “My mother is aware of the best way to make issues occur,” he says, explaining that watching her taught him to be the identical approach. “My mother can be a really massive dreamer, so us collectively—the world is actually ours.”
What his mentor is saying: “What’s nice about Jakevis is a mix of his mind, being extraordinarily gifted, 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 variety and human and gifted on the similar time is exemplary.”
Movie buff: At USC, Thomason had concentrations in enterprise, choreography, and cinema, so it’s not shocking that you just’ll probably discover him on the films on his days off. “It’s one thing about having the ability to escape for an hour or two and simply dive into this story and the way it’s being advised,” he says, including that his favourite films are normally psychological thrillers with twist. He may even see himself including digital camera 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 positively see myself additionally working behind the digital camera or going into cinematography.”
