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

Jesse, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?

There have been countless times where I couldn’t verbally express myself because I felt that the words didn’t exist. There was hardly any way to contain my most intense moments, yet I did not have the means to accurately, and safely, express the pain, heartbreak, and melancholy I held deep within.

That all changed when a friend of mine taught me how to break(dance).

I didn’t know this person, but they approached me as if they knew me all along. What started as a friendly gamble over air hockey turned out to be the beginning of my new life. A life where healthy, independent people molded me to become a healthy independent person, helping other people.

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.

To clarify where I stand in this world of creatives, I am simply a creative.

When my friend taught me how to break six years ago, I was exposed to a whole new world. Before that, I played sports, went to the gym, and skateboarded. Whenever I saw a dance video, I always wanted to learn.

When I finally learned, I became a sponge; I was like a kindergartner on his first day of school. I didn’t know what I was looking at, but my heart skipped a beat when I saw people move to that boom-bap. At that moment, I was hooked.

What I’m most proud of…. people often ask me how I move the way I move. It’s a tough question to answer because, it’s just how I feel. So to anyone reading: it’s cliche but, follow your heart. You’d be surprised what you can do.

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

Man, to keep it simple: set measurable goals. In dancer’s terms, what I mean is make sure you are setting up yourself for a small success every time you go practice. In 2020, I was in the headspace of trying become a world-class, Red Bull-branded bboy. Although it’s something I presently keep in mind, I was hindering my progress. I hadn’t finished two years of breaking, or dance for that matter, and I had set up too high of an expectation for myself. COVID became a true battle within, I questioned if I even wanted to continue. I couldn’t go forward if I believed I wouldn’t make it anyway.

Then, I decided to remember that breaking is special to me. It saved my life. Time and time again I had to unlearn and learn different beliefs about what I want to accomplish with breaking. All I want to do is express myself in ways that my words can’t.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect is my ability to share my craft anywhere I go, and unlocking different ways to express myself.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: wowwjesse
• Other: I’m private on IG, but feel free to send me a message and I’m more than happy to accept :)

Image Credits

photos were taken by my personal friends Jihyun, Will, Chris, and Shaula