We recently connected with Zaji Cox and have shared our conversation below.

Zaji, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

A couple of years ago, I performed a contemporary dance piece that went hand-in-hand with a concept and poem I wrote about being mixed race and trying to find out more about your own family history. It meant a lot to me and led to how I might create more projects like it. Sadly, the performing series I presented this in is no longer happening due to Covid, but I am always looking for more opportunities to present this idea and, in general, combine writing and dance. I enjoy exploring what comes from combining art forms and different ways of telling stories.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have been creating stories since a young age, discovering a passion for writing when I wrote my first short story at nine years old. I began to seriously consider it at age thirteen, writing a fantasy/adventure middle-grade book that I later self-published. In high school, I wrote and then self-published a collection of short stories. I earned my BA in English in 2019 and continue to publish nonfiction and poetry. I now have a memoir, Plums for Months, coming out May 9th, 2023 by Forest Avenue Press.

I am also a trained dancer, having started in competitive gymnastics at age seven and moving on to dance in my teens. I have performed professionally with ballet and contemporary dance companies, and have been a guest dancer with various companies and live musicians both locally in Portland and out-of-state. I enjoy experimenting with the combination of art forms and often blend writing and dance.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the most important and rewarding aspects of being an artist, for me, is connection. A person being an audience member and experiencing art is one thing, but it is another if they can feel a personal connection. To perform a themed dance piece and open a person’s eyes to something they may not have been aware of before, or to share a personal challenge through writing and know that I made one other person feel less alone if they experienced something similar, is very meaningful to me.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

One thing I have gone into detail with non-artists more than once before is the concept of how difficult it can be to gain access to the dance or literary world – especially when you have not had a traditional background when it comes to training. Many times, I have had to explain that performing with a professional dance company involves a lot more steps (no pun intended) than one might think, or that getting writing published is not without many rejections. The art world, when it comes to both, still has issues with gatekeeping. As someone who is part of more than one marginalized community, I have run into this issue more than once.

Contact Info:

• Website: zajitheartist.com
• Instagram: @zajitheartist
• Facebook: facebook.com/panteranocte
• Twitter: @CoxZaji
• Youtube: youtube.com/@zajitheartist
• Other: patreon.com/zajitheartist

Image Credits
Stone Johnsen Neu Perspectives Photography Errol Cox