Article Summary: Aakomon Jones joins Runway Magazine discussing his career as a celebrated choreographer and the creative passion driving his extraordinary artistic work.
Aakomon “AJ” Jones
may not sound like a
familiar name to you, but
you’ve probably seen it
on many film and music
credits without realizing.
Maybe it won’t be his
name that stands out,
but rather his dance
moves. AJ Jones is the
choreographer behind
tremendous performers
like Madonna and Usher,
as well as hit movies.
Most recently, Jones’
choreography was
featured in the James
Brown biopic, “Get On
Up!”, and soon you’ll be
seeing his work in the
much anticipated “Pitch
Perfect 2”. Runway had
the pleasure to discuss
the beautiful, challenging
and entertaining art of
dance!
Aakomon “AJ” Jones and the Work Behind the Movement
This 2015 RUNWAY archive feature captures Aakomon “AJ” Jones at a moment when his choreography was moving easily between music, film and live performance. The original profile introduced Jones through work connected with artists including Madonna and Usher, along with choreography for the James Brown biopic Get On Up and the then-upcoming Pitch Perfect 2. Those credits help explain why a choreographer can be influential even when audiences do not immediately recognize the name behind the movement.
Choreography is more than a sequence of steps. In music and film, it determines how performers occupy a frame, how a camera follows motion and how a performance builds tension or release. A successful choreographer has to understand music, character, physical ability and visual storytelling at the same time. That combination is what makes Jones’ cross-media résumé especially relevant to RUNWAY’s coverage of entertainment and performance.
Why Choreography Matters to Fashion and Pop Culture
Fashion and choreography regularly overlap. Clothing has to move convincingly on a body, stage costumes have to survive repeated performance, and a strong silhouette can become more memorable when movement gives it shape. Music videos, concert tours and film sequences often turn fashion into part of the choreography itself. A jacket, dress or pair of shoes can change the way a performer moves, while the choreography can make a look feel iconic.
Jones’ work with major performers illustrates that relationship. The audience may remember the song, costume or film scene first, but the movement is often what binds those elements together. That makes choreography an important part of the visual language shared by entertainment and fashion.
A RUNWAY Archive Interview Worth Revisiting
The value of this short archive item is its direct connection to a working creative professional whose contribution normally happens behind the scenes. RUNWAY’s 2015 conversation focused on the beauty, difficulty and entertainment value of dance at a point when Jones’ film work was reaching a broad audience. Preserving that context gives the page more value than a simple name-and-credit listing.
For more coverage of performers, directors and the creative teams shaping visual culture, explore RUNWAY’s Entertainment coverage.
