Former General Trass High School student Javontae Kelly performed as a backup dancer for rapper Kendrick Lamar at the Superbowl halftime show.
Kelly grew up in Lake Providence, occasionally visiting family from Arkansas but otherwise staying in the area. Though he danced for most of his life, high school allowed him to comfortably explore the arts through their “Sounds of Blackness” ensemble.
After graduating from General Trass in 2014, he enrolled in Southern University A&M with a major in business management.
“I chose that college because of the rich culture, and the marching band,” Kelly said. “It provided many opportunities on big stages.”
His involvement in different organizations and participation in community events only grew into experience for opportunities during and after college. One of these opportunities was dancing with Kendrick Lamar during his halftime performance.
“I knew a friend who had worked many Super Bowls… and I asked how I could gain access to one of the biggest opportunities in the world,” Kelly said. “When it was time to apply, I applied, and after weeks of waiting, I got accepted.”
While it may be most peoples’ dreams to meet their favorite artist, sometimes attitudes not seen on camera ruin those experiences. With Lamar, however, Kelly believes he is polite and respectful with his coworkers—it is a different story with his enemies and the diss tracks he writes against them.
“We rehearsed with Kendrick, and he gave us positive feedback, and let us know we were doing a great job,” Kelly said. “He appreciated us for being a part of the experience. Kendrick is an incredible artist who values storytelling, so every movement had meaning. The rehearsal process was intense but rewarding, and the camaraderie among the dancers made it even more special.”
Lamar choreographed each step in the performance with intent—even being commonly described as “an activist before an artist.” He worked to ensure his dancers understood the meaning and their role in fulfilling that meaning. Kelly feels that “if you got the message, you got it, and if you didn’t, then there’s nothing wrong with that either. As long as you enjoyed the show.”
Overall, Kelly’s performance alongside Lamar helped him build a following and made it easier for him to pursue his goals.
“I have a few goals I want to accomplish as far as what I want to do to further my career,” Kelly said. “Just know that it will be a sight to see. There are no limits to where my career is going, I’m going after everything I set goals for.”
Kelly strongly encourages those with similar dreams to fight for their dreams. He believes people should take every opportunity presented, because “you never know who’s watching, you never know who you could inspire and you will never know who you will run into if you don’t take those chances.”
