We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jayson Britton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jayson below.

Alright, Jayson thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I first knew I wanted to pursue a creative/ artistic path professionally when I knew that the arts was something I could never live without and needed it to be apart of my life always in some capacity. Whether its pursuing a career in dance, modeling and or creative directing, my goal is to always be involved and have an impact in some way, shape or form!

Jayson, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve been interested in the arts since I was six years old. I love them all, but dancing was my passion. My primary focus throughout middle and high school was dance. From the sixth grade until now, as a full-time college student in my senior year at the University of the Arts, I have acquired some of the best knowledge and wisdom from some of the greatest mentors. After I finish my degree, I plan to dance professionally. I was exposed to a lot as a result of my involvement in the arts, which prompted me to explore other creative aspects of myself. Toward the conclusion of high school, I began to explore other artistic avenues, such as modeling, fashion, photography and content creation. I love creating and working with other artists to make something visually appealing. As a dancer, I felt that modeling and being in front of the camera was another avenue for me to express my true self as a creative being. I’ve never been afraid to be myself or do the things that make me happy, and I believe it has aided me greatly in my journey thus far. The one thing I can say that I’m most proud of about myself is that I don’t give up when things get hard. God built you for everything that comes your way so I try to remember that I am equipt and I can do it all.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

It’s that feeling that you get when you’re inspired, going through a process, actively creating or you’re finally seeing the finished product of what you worked so hard on. It’s truly a feeling of fulfillment just by creating and doing what I love to do. Whether it’s after a performance where rehearsals were 3-4 months long of intense labor or after a photoshoot where you see the entire vision come to life, that feeling of fulfillment and accomplishment will never get old. Especially when it comes to creating content, there’s really no better feeling than seeing all your footage together with the fire editing you sprinkled on there! Another aspect I think is so rewarding is the constant inspiration you’re surrounded with and by. Being in a creative process or space with other creatives is one of the best types of energies you can feel. Everyone is so hard working and you all have a common goal, to create the best piece of work you’ve ever made at that very moment. I’m constantly inspired by my peers and mutuals but also my community and upbringing. I grab inspiration from the people around me and the things I go through as they will either ground me or help me push harder.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I was the covid graduating class meaning my first year of college was on zoom. That entire year was a battle. A battle to stay focused, to stay inspired, to want to learn more all on top of all your other obligations. Zoom university just wasn’t for me, especially being a dance major. It was hard for me to connect to something I loved and that really scared me. I was having those thoughts of “ is it time to move on and let this go? and is it really for me anymore?”. Getting through majoring in dance online was one of the hardest things I had to endure mentally because I had to continue to remind myself this is only temporary and the way you feel will pass. I’ve seen so many people take different paths because of the pandemic and i also contemplated as well but i just couldn’t see myself doing anything else and to change that path wasn’t my calling either. Like my mom always says “ you wanna make God laugh, tell him your plans”. If majoring in dance was something I was going to do and continue to do, I had to be either all in or all out. Fast forward to today, I’m now a senior in college still majoring in dance and at this moment I could not be more proud of myself for the resilience I’ve shown that’s gotten me through. Especially being in a female dominated industry, the little boys who remind me of my younger self who just wanted to dance inspire me everyday to keep going! I’m extremely grateful for my support system and mentors in my life who hold me down but also lift me up to help remind myself that all of this isn’t for no reason. There’s always a bigger plan that all of these “ little” challenges are preparing you for. You’ve just gotta stay gracious, humble and ready to accept the challenges thrown your way. To all those little boys out there who just want to dance because it’s what you love to do, KEEP GOING and NEVER STOP… cause i’m not!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: jayxbrittonn
• Other: tiktok: @jayxbritton

Image Credits
Shoshana Issacs Yaa Kwayana Mikey Morado Mica Taylor