JAZ FAIRY J | Dancer, choreographer
City: Toronto
Instagram: @jazfairyj
Previous work: For Coloured Girls, The Brother’s Size, Death And The King’s Horseman, open light
Jaz ‘Fairy J’ Simone is an extraordinary Barbadian-Canadian multi-hyphenate artist, illuminating the creative landscape from her base in Toronto. Commencing her journey in 2007, she has spent the last 15 years crafting a remarkable career as a performance artist, choreographer, movement director, dancer, singer/musician, outside eye/creative mentor, and, more recently, as the visionary proprietor of a handmade skincare small business.
With an impressive repertoire spanning diverse artistic realms, Jaz ‘Fairy J’ has birthed over 30 original dance compositions that have graced stages in Toronto, Montreal, North Bay, Brooklyn NY, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Berlin, Birmingham UK, and Sinop, Turkey. Her choreographic genius has garnered prestigious commissions from esteemed institutions such as Toronto Dance Theatre, the Art Gallery of Ontario, The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Cawthra Park Secondary School, Dance Immersion, Etobicoke School of the Arts, and the Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival.
A luminary in the truest sense, Jaz ‘Fairy J’ infuses every facet of her artistry with boundless passion and innovation. Her captivating performances and evocative choreography transcend boundaries, inspiring audiences across the globe. A dynamic force, she continues to push artistic frontiers, leaving an indelible mark on the world of creativity.
More about Jaz Fairy J
What is your biggest professional achievement?
“It’s really hard to say. There have been so many I am proud of over the years. One of the most influential achievements I’ve had, is working with Choreographer Kenny Ortega for the film “Rocky Horror Picture Show” in 2016. No Choreographer or colleague had ever made me feel so seen and so necessary in a project ever in my life. Kenny used to choreograph for Michael Jackson and Gene Kelly was his mentor so having the support and affirmation from an artist of his calibre, is something I carried with me ever since. He told me that “if people don’t see your talent, they are blind.”
What obstacles/challenges have you had to face to get to where you are today?
“I have experienced a lot of rejection; a lot. When I first started my career I would reach out to established choreographers in my city to be mentored and to learn. I was blatantly ignored by several artists that I had looked up to and wanted to learn from. I was told by one artist that many of my colleagues and I looked up to, that “you are trying to do too many things. You cannot be a Mother, Choreographer and Artistic Director” It was crushing for me as a young mother and budding artist to be told I was not capable of doing what I had set out to do. I found out years later that this artist had been racist to friends of mine that studied with her in school. I took this rejection and unsupportive energy to heart for a long time but I also used it to fuel me; to prove everyone who rejected and doubted me wrong. I had to find a way to fulfill my purpose and I will work on this until I am not working anymore. In addition to this, dance work is not regulated by a union, so getting mistreated and underpaid have been an all too familiar experience throughout the years as well. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been worth the journey.”
What’s something people should know about you?
“I’m a Fairy. A light worker. My work and what I do is as much for the collective as it is for me. I am here to help raise vibrations and pour good energy into the world through my life work as an artist.”
