We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joshua Calhoun a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Joshua thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

I feel like since beginning my dance journey in ATL I’ve been mischaracterized as a dancer and I think that mainly goes into my image and training. Later on in my journey I found that I’m misunderstood a-lot at times as a choreographer but I think that has something to do with my inner self.

My image wasn’t what a ATL dancer should give, I was told dance more masculine and dress that part(now granted I knew my style had to be polished lol). I felt like my training wasn’t as advance as my peers in the room so confidence was low. I felt like I looked a certain way so I was expected to dance that way.

Now being misunderstood as a choreographer was more so inner self, because honestly and truly what you create is definitely a extension of yourself. At a brief point in undergrad I allowed others to say who I should be as a choreographer and from that I was misunderstood until I had to take time and realize who the hell I was and what made me happy. I had to learn others might not understand your vision and that’s ok

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

My name is Joshua “Prime” Calhoun I’m 26years old and from Lafayette, Louisiana. I’m a choreographer/dancer soon looking to get my experience up in creative directing. I provide my choreography and dance services for music videos, festival, weddings, collegiate and high school dance teams, workshops, and drag shows.

I would say I’m most proud of my #PRiMEOGRAPHY Visuals I’ve created and put out on my social media
(IG: @Joshuacalhoun_). I would also say I’m proud of the fact I’m still here after all the highs and lows I’m still here creating and doing what makes me as a creative happy.

What I want people to know about my work is one the name of creative brand is PRiMEOGRAPHY, and that my work comes from the soul. I want people to know from me as creative that I get doubtful and at times want to stop but the goal is to keep pushing no matter what. It’s ok to stop to reinvent yourself (hell 56 times if you have to). I want people to know that I’m learning and I will only get better.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn is that the dance community is a family. I’ve come to realize the dance community is like a high school cafeteria and each table represents a group of a certain status. I had to unlearn the need to be at one of the tables in order to “make it”. Everyone isn’t my cup of tea and vice versa and there isn’t anything wrong with that. I had to learn I can make and set my own table and eat at it.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I would say I had a few of moments in my journey when I had to change up some things to reinvent myself. Honestly I would say I’m in one of those periods now as far as my creative journey and my journey as a adult. I released and handful of visual last year and early this year as well and after that I found myself dealing with a creative block honestly but it had everything to do with my life outside of creating & dancing, that was the issue. The universe has shifted and life has been lifing, but I’m getting my foundation straight and my mental in check so I can be that creative that I need for me, I’m showing up for myself.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Joshuacalhoun_
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: Joshua Prime Calhoun
• Other: Dance page: @primeography_

Image Credits
Dominique Marie Jenkins Fontenot