Podcast Episodes

Episode 135: Jamie J. Thompson [Belhaven Dance Alumni – Part Eight]

by Rachel Caldwell

We are continuing our Belhaven Dance Alumni series with performer and dance educator Jamie J. Thompson! Jamie joins me for part eight of our series, episode 135, sharing the integral significance of dance in his upbringing in Belize and the path he has journeyed to becoming a professional dancer and educator in New York City. He reflects on his formative years, both his experiences growing up in Belize and his transformative time at Belhaven University. Jamie’s story highlights the power of mentorship as well as learning to synthesize our experiences and create a “toolkit” of skills as an artist.

We chat about pivotal moments in Jamie’s professional dance career, including his early experiences in Dallas and his time as part of Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway. He discusses the joys and challenges of performing, including injuries and the demands of the industry, as well as how those challenges have helped him develop resilience. Jamie also delves into his teaching philosophy and his creative process as a choreographer. He offers valuable advice for aspiring dancers about exploring their full talent matrix and preparing for a diverse career in the arts. Jamie’s story is such an inspiration!

Several other Belhaven Dance Alumni have shared their stories on the podcast over the years, so we’ve gathered all the episodes together in a playlist for you! Check out the playlist on Spotify!

You can watch the show on YouTube or Spotify, or listen through your favorite podcast app (ie. Apple Podcasts, Spotify). You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing wherever you prefer to connect! We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

About Jamie:

A native of Belize, Central America, Jamie J. Thompson is internationally known and respected for his vision, professionalism and commitment to excellence. He spent his formative years on philanthropic endeavors through the arts. A highlight from those experiences was serving as director and choreographer for productions written by Patrick Brown and presented by the Rotary Club of Belize (2005-2009). In addition to his volunteerism, he began formal dance training with the Belize National Dance Company and The Dramatic Forces School of Dance.

His passion for dance, stirred by the tutelage of the two institutions, led him to a successful pursuit of earning a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Belhaven University in Jackson, MS. After college, his professional dance experience began with the Dallas Black Dance Theatre (2010-2014). Immediately after, he served as Executive Artistic Director for the International Conservatory of Performing Arts. Since then, he has performed with the Bruce Wood Dance Project, Contemporary Ballet Dallas, and Collin Country Ballet Theatre, Dance Place (Washington, D.C) and Tuacahn Performing Arts Center (St. George, Utah) and served as a Lecturer at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, Jamaica (2018).

Recently, Jamie was a member of the Dance Ensemble of Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway (2019-2023) and an Adjunct Professor at NYU/Tisch School of the Arts. He holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, with a concentration in strategic innovation and change.

Links from the Show: