Dancer, choreographer, and actress Jaeden Rae Gomez has had a passion for performing since she was 10. That passion has now allowed her to collaborate with artists like Lizzo, work on projects like Happy Gilmore 2, and perform on the Camp Flog Gnaw stage. She spoke with NYOTA about making viral dance trends, her favorite choreographers, and her creative process.
When did your passion for performing begin? Did you always envision this path, or did your success surprise you? You also completed cosmetology school. Do you see that as part of your future, or are you fully focused on performing?
My passion for performing began when I was about 10 years old! My mother was a dancer as well, and danced for her high school dance team at West Mesa High. Her team won the state competition, and I remember that video being a huge inspiration as a child. This path actually did come as a huge surprise for me; I never envisioned myself going down this specific path. I knew I wanted to dance, but I thought it would be more as a hobby. I didn’t think I would ever have the opportunity to turn it into a career, the way it happened!
Right after high school, I went into cosmetology school, which I enjoyed very much. I met the most amazing people, and really found another passion and community outside of the dance world. I never thought I would ever move away from New Mexico, so I was very set on pursuing cosmetology full-time! I still very much have a passion for hair and still see myself pursuing that down the line. It’s always been a dream of mine to open a salon of my own! As for now, I am trying to focus my attention on dance/performing, while my body is willing and able!
Your red hair, curls, street style, and tattoos are part of your signature look. How important is personal style in shaping your identity and the content you create?
I think that having a personal style is extremely important in shaping my identity, because it really forces me to explore what I enjoy and what makes me feel myself. Not what I think others will like or approve of. Growing up, I always had a strong sense of self, but noticed that whenever I tried to be like/dress like someone else or put myself in a box, my creativity went down the drain. How could I be myself when I was actively trying to be/look like someone else? I think it’s vital to explore in your self-expression because it will lead to you being who you really are, inside and out. I remember once I started getting tattoos and I dyed my hair red, I finally felt like me. I think it also helped the content I create because it has inspired others to play around with their styles and gives my creation a sense of imagery and personality behind it!
What’s your creative process? How do you know when a dance is ready to share?
My creative process for creating a dance is very laid back, in my opinion. I tend to be a perfectionist, but when I make my dances, I try to go off of my first instincts of not only what feels good to me, but mainly if it will feel good for others trying to learn! I always listen to the song in my headphones first, because there are always hidden gems that sometimes the ear can’t hear on the speakerphone. Then I’ll figure out what section of the song feels the most trendy and alive, and what will catch people’s attention the quickest. I usually aim to keep TikTok dances anywhere from 13-23 seconds, so it’s attainable for all levels of dancers who wanna try. Then I will do the dance about 10 times in my drafts to make sure I actually enjoy it or if it needs tweaking in certain areas, and then that’s when it hits the platform!
You’ve created viral dance trends for major hits like “About Damn Time,” “34+35,” “Dance the Night,” and “Gimme More.” What does it mean to see millions, including celebrities, performing your choreography?
To see millions of people, including celebrities, performing my choreography, is actually the most insane thing that has happened to me. It’s absolutely baffling to me, because I never in a million years would have ever seen this coming! It’s a dream come true for sure, and I sometimes feel like I’m on an extremely long episode of Pranked…like… is this real life? I remember when I posted “34+35” for the first time, and a dancer that I’ve been inspired by for years, Bailey Sok, did my dance, and I absolutely lost my mind. I was going to work at the medical dispensary and the restaurant I worked at, when I looked at my phone the next morning and saw the views. This was in 2020 when COVID shut everything down, including my cosmetology school, so it was like a fever dream! I wouldn’t be where I am today if I had never made that dance, which is surreal. “Dance the Night Away,” and “Gimme More,” were two pieces that I made with my friend Kara Cannella, and our lives would’ve been completely different if we had never made those together! “Gimme More” was the first duo dance that started Kara’s and my choreographers’ momentum together, and was our first burst of seeing celebrities do our dance, such as Jenna Dewan, which was an actual shock; we couldn’t believe it. It means the absolute world to me to know my work reaches that far into others’ lives!
You’ve choreographed for artists like Rhea Raj. Who are some dream artists you’d love to work with, and would you prefer creating choreography for music videos, tours, or live award performances?
Rhea Raj is an absolute power house and a dream to have worked with! I would really love to work for other amazing artists such as Zara Larson, Rico Nasty, Sabrina Carpenter, Say Now, Katseye, Tyla, Tate McRae, Ashnikko, Monelo, Adela, and Doja Cat! I honestly can say that I don’t have a preference for the creation, I’m happy as long as I’m playing and creating! I will say that choreographing for music videos is probably my favorite, because there is so much more to play with, and getting to see it all come together on screen is so exciting to see, and so fun to mess around with. The anticipation of the final cut is something I really look forward to! Live performances are also so fun because they happen so fast, that when it’s over, you just wanna do it again!
Who are some of your favorite choreographers in pop culture history? If you could have been a dancer in one iconic music video, which would it be?
Brian Friedman is definitely in my top pick of favorite choreographers, because everything that he created for Britney Spears was insanely iconic. He actually followed me back on TikTok, which basically sent me into a full-on freakout. Another favorite choreographer of mine is Michael Peters, who choreographed Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” which will forever be engraved in iconic choreography that will never be forgotten. Speaking of the Jackson family, Anthony Thomas is another favorite, as he choreographed Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation,” which was a music video I was, and still am, obsessed with. That was a music video I remember seeing as a kid, and being like, “I want to do that.” My mom and I would watch that music video over and over and over again. In today’s dance world, one of my favorite choreographers is definitely Shay Latukolan, who choreographed “Back on 74,” by Jungle. That choreography is so beautiful and feels so carefree. It blew everyone’s mind in the dance community, reached so many people, and inspired so many to get up and groove. I remember at Coachella last year when Jungle performed, the amount of people in the crowd doing the choreography made me cry. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed, watching so many people be connected through movement, even if they “aren’t a dancer.” I think that’s what makes choreography like his and so many others so special!
Is there a specific dance style you’d love to see featured more in films?
I think there are so many wonderful styles of dance that are showcased in film, and a lot of my love for dance did come through the film industry. Footloose and Step Up were two of the first films I saw where I felt like I just saw colors for the first time. I think I’d love to see more jazz funk and sexy heels choreography in some films, like Chicago, for example, or Burlesque! I also think ballet is so captivating to watch, not just in person but in film. I feel like I’m holding my breath and trying not to blink the entire time, because I don’t wanna miss a single moment!
You’ve collaborated with artists like Camila Cabello and Lizzo. What’s it like adapting your choreography to different artists? Is there a collaboration or behind-the-scenes moment that stands out to you?
Collaborating with artists with my own choreography is extremely rewarding, but it is a little bit nerve-racking! Usually, I create the choreography based on how I want it to feel in my own body, but when I know it’s a collaboration, I like to make sure movement makes them feel comfortable as well. I also want to make sure that it resonates with their fanbase, not just what I think will perform well. It really comes down to, “What is their style and how can I mesh it together for everyone?” A collaboration behind-the-scenes moment that stands out was when I was asked to go on James Corden for an episode of Car Karaoke, with Lizzo as the musical Guest. A move or two got tweaked on the spot just by everyone learning it differently from different videos that they had seen of people doing it, so it was fun to go through the dance move by move and make sure it was all cohesive for everyone! Even if a move needed to be tweaked in that moment. Another moment that stands out for me is when I was asked to collaborate with Camila Cabello. This wasn’t my choreography we were doing, so her choreographers were there to teach it to me, Sara Biv and Calvit Hodge. Which was phenomenal, because I am a fan of them and their amazing work! We got to play around with different angles, lighting, and locations, and she was very helpful with what I thought would perform well on both of our pages, which was very thoughtful!
