For professional dancer and choreographer Jarrett Weathers, dancing is in his core.
“Ever since I learned how to walk, I’ve had some kind of rhythm in my body,” he said. “Dance is a way of life. Without it, life would be boring.”
At 8 years old, Weathers said he honed his dancing and stage skills through the Asante Children’s Theatre under the direction of Deborah Asante. He was so good, at age 16, he became a member of the Indiana Fever’s “Fever Inferno” team and showcased his skills in front of thousands of WNBA fans at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Now at age 20, he lends his talents as a professional choreographer.
“Being a choreographer is challenging. You always have to be original, be fresh. You have to challenge yourself to think outside the box of who you are and your comfort zone to paint a picture through dance. Its hard, but it’s so much fun,” said Weathers, who admires dancers like Michael Jackson and choreographers like Sean Bankhead and Amanda Grind.
Weathers is trained in African, praise, modern, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip-hop. In addition to remaining proficient in so many forms of dance, he said he must maintain a level of athleticism and nutrition.
As a student of the art-form, he isn’t totally pleased with how rhythm is portrayed in the mainstream media and wants people who move their body to a beat, to get back to the purity of dance.
Weathers adds that he believes Black culture drives multiple forms of dancing and Blacks must stop degrading themselves, channel their ancestors who originated dancing to beats and dance with pride and purpose.
“Twerking is not dancing,” laughed Weathers. “I remember when Michael Jackson would come on everyone would gather in the front room to watch him. When Janet Jackson came out with a new routine, if you didn’t know the routine, you weren’t cool. I ‘Nae Nae’ and ‘Whip,’ but today, we need more dances that make sense.”
Despite his feelings toward today’s dance moves, Weathers said dance is not dead. He puts feet to his words, lending his talents to youth who attend Too Much Dance Academy, passing his passion on to the next generation.
These talented tots and teens don purple and lime green to perform everywhere from Circle City Classic in Indianapolis to BET L.A. Experience in Los Angeles.
When he’s not leading and teaching young dancers, Weathers continues to dance with the Fever Inferno dance team.
“Jarrett brings a very distinct personal style to the court during our time-out routines. He executes all of the choreography, but finds a way to add his own twist. He has a special way of connecting with the fans on and off the court,” said Michelle Duggan, dance teams manager for the Pacemates, Fever Inferno and Boom Babies.
As a choreographer and dancer, Weathers would like to do things such as open his own studio or dance alongside celebrities, but what he truly wants to do is continue to be an ambassador for dance.
“Wherever God takes me I’m going to follow. There’s a lot of people who don’t take dance seriously. If we make dancing more available and bring studios more resources, I think it would give youth outlets to do more positive things instead of being on the streets or losing their lives to violence,” said Weathers. “My ultimate dream is to travel to Africa and host my own dance workshop there.”
