Just a few years after his graduation from the Glorya Kaufman School of Dance at the University of Southern California, Jakevis Thomason booked the dream gig for many a commercial dancemaker: choreographing for Beyoncé. After making a viral dance video to Queen Bey’s “Black Parade,” Thomason was approached by the artist’s team to set the song’s choreography on her dancers for last year’s Renaissance tour. His work is deeply musical, simultaneously filled with sumptuous details and full-bodied movements—allowing it to translate perfectly from film to arena.
Thomason has also choreographed for Brandy and has performed with a slew of big names, like Kali Uchis, Jack Harlow, Lil Nas X, and FKA twigs. He’s choreographed in the concert dance space for Whim W’him and is a hip-hop teacher at CLI Conservatory. But it’s not just his star-studded resumé that makes this artist stand out. Thomason possesses genuine star power and humble approachability, making him magnetic onstage and off
Age: 26
Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina
Training: Dianne’s School of Dance, Glorya Kaufman School of Dance at the University of Southern California (BFA in dance)
Accolades: 5th Annual JK March Madness Winner (choreography competition hosted by JaQuel Knight)
Drive and determination: Filled with boundless energy as a child, Thomason studied at Dianne’s School of Dance in his hometown from age 3 until college. As he began to get more serious about the art form—“Beyoncé was my first concert,” he says, “and ever since then, I was like, ‘I want to dance’ ”—the price tag for participation continued to increase. “My mom was working a lot, but she’s a single parent, so she couldn’t really afford to pay for that much dance. I would work at the studio and teach classes, just to help afford competitions and conventions.”
He gets it from his mama: Thomason and his mother (a comedian and radio personality) share a close bond, and he credits both her and his grandmother with teaching him about work ethic and perseverance. “My mom knows how to make things happen,” he says, explaining that watching her taught him to be the same way. “My mom is also a very big dreamer, so us together—the world is literally ours.”
What his mentor is saying: “What’s great about Jakevis is a combination of his intellect, being extremely talented, and being open to learning—and he’s a genuinely humble and nice person,” says Emmy-nominated choreographer Christian Vincent, a former USC professor who has been a mentor to Thomason. “To be kind and human and talented at the same time is exemplary.”
Film buff: At USC, Thomason had concentrations in business, choreography, and cinema, so it’s not surprising that you’ll likely find him at the movies on his days off. “It’s something about being able to escape for an hour or two and just dive into this story and how it’s being told,” he says, adding that his favorite movies are usually psychological thrillers with a good twist. He can even see himself adding camera work to his resumé. “Dance is one of those things that can always lead you into some other path that is still influenced by movement—I can definitely see myself also working behind the camera or going into cinematography.”
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