A Mini Moment With: Jeremy De'jon Guyton

Miss Grass

What if being high was a dance? That’s the question Jeremy De'jon Guyton was tasked with answering. The director, choreographer, and multidisciplinary performer was tapped to work with our creative team to choreograph movements that captured the way Wind Down feels. A cozy, recalibrating flow that mimicked the relief you feel when you get home at the end of the day.

Experienced with creating worlds for both live, immersive experiences and various film projects, Jeremy dove right in, considering how he could plan around the objects in the apartment and still make room for whimsical freestyling in between. The end result is a transportive short film that drops our cortisol levels with every watch.

In this Q&A, Jeremy shares more about his work, his approach to this project, his relationship to cannabis, and how this experience is inspiring future explorations in movement and feeling.

How long have you been a dancer?

The first time I stepped on stage was in kindergarten, and I’ve trained in theatre and dance ever since. Currently, I’m touring in a contemporary dance work across Europe with shows in London and Berlin this upcoming summer. I am also working on various projects, including a 360 AR dance documentary set to premiere next year.

Is cannabis a part of your creative process?

At times, yes. I’ve used cannabis in my free//style practice to help me get out of my head and really in tune with my body. I find that cannabis can quiet my inner critic and support me in ideation and play states to follow my creative impulses and unlock a creative flow.

How do you wind down after a stressful day?

After a busy day, I enjoy taking long walks, preferably by a body of water, or indulging in some cannabis and a cocktail at sunset. Connecting with intentional breath and stretching or participating in a yoga practice support me in re//centering and grounding in the present moment, releasing the overwhelm I may still be carrying from the day.

How did you approach this project with Jewels?

This was a fun one to play with. Once I received the music, I improvised around my house, using objects and furniture to start to get a sense of what may work in the space. I created three small movement phrases that were adaptable – I wanted to develop a movement language for this character while leaving room to improvise and play with objects on set and make any pivots necessary. I wanted to play with the idea of manipulating time and flow while also capturing the intimacy of coming home after a long day and being at peace with oneself.

How much of this was planned/choreographed vs. freestyle?

I came to set with a few movement phrases already choreographed and an idea of how I would play in the space based off our previous site visit. After a surprise pivot in location, it was an exciting challenge to rethink some of the movement in the new orientation of the space. The couch sequence was the most choreographed movement because we needed to sync the movement with the music to create a specific effect. For the other scenes, I appreciated the space to play and find what worked in the moment, allowing for an organic exploration of the objects in the space.

A huge part of the fun is seeing this highly skilled movement happen in a highly mundane environment: one's home. Was it unusual/challenging/fun to work in a contained, interior space?

I was eager to push myself in terms of risks I could take with the objects in the space and thinking about how to interact with the different elements in fun and innovative ways. Working with the mundane provides a playground to shake up what we take for granted and shift perspective on how we use everyday objects, like a book or a couch. Sometimes, certain ideas in my head didn’t go as planned, or the object didn’t respond to the movement in the way I imagined. It was reassuring to be on set with such a gracious and encouraging creative team.

What does your inner monologue sound like when you dance?

When I dance, I’m really trying to quiet my mind and allow my body to surrender to the impulses that arise. I’m transmuting energy from around me through my body and translating a story into movement. Sometimes, I will think about the story and make movement choices that support the narrative. I dance because I feel free, and that feeling is what I’m chasing most – that which feels good and yummy and exciting. If music is involved, then I typically allow the mood and syncopation to direct my movement, and I strive to be a visual extension of the sonic information conveyed.

Are there other sensory experiences/thoughts/vibes you're interested in translating into this form?

The first thing that comes to mind is the nostalgia of returning to a childhood home. I’ve been working through my family archive in my grandparents’ home and playing with bringing elements of this journey into my work. There’s an unfulfilled yearning in this type of nostalgia that I’m curious to translate into movement.

What's your favorite music to dance to right now?

Right now, I enjoy dancing to jazz and blues and music with heavy syncopated rhythms and percussive elements as part of my creative curiosity and research. I also love house music and deepening my movement practice on the club dance floor.