JAY CARLON

ANESTHETIZED.

I’ve been searching for a socially acceptable reason to scream, to grunt—like Serena Williams. In fact, I considered wearing a catsuit when I filmed this... I thought, can a grown ass man have a tantrum without looking like a complete nut? I guess John McEnroe did, but white men can get away with murder. You know, sometimes I look at babies and children with envy when they stamp their feet, cry at the top of their lungs, and throw shit. All I wanna do is throw shit. All I want to do is plop myself in a meadow, strip down, run, scream and cry at the top of my lungs... I attempted that on my birthday last month... No tears, fake scream, couldn’t even pretend to cry... and I cry at dog commercials. I picked up a racket 8 weeks into quarantine hoping that it would provide me with an opportunity to exert energy, to hit shit, to feel again. The thing with tennis is you need a partner to rally.

rally
ral·ly | \ ˈra-lē\

1 (noun): a series of shots interchanged between players (as in tennis) before a point is won
2 (transitive verb): to muster for a common purpose

Named Dance Magazine’s Top 25 to watch in 2020, Jay Carlon is a contemporary choreographer based in Los Angeles whose highly physical work is focused in experimental, site-sensitive dance theatre. Born and raised on California’s Central Coast, Carlon’s work is inspired by his background as a competitive wrestler while growing up the youngest of 12 in a Filipino, Catholic, and agricultural migrant-working family. In 2016, he started a multidisciplinary dance group called CARLON. Jay’s work has been presented in Los Angeles at REDCAT, The Broad Museum, Los AngelesDance Project, Annenberg Community Beach House, LA Dance Festival, ElectricLodge, Los Angeles Performance Practice, homeLA, and Beach Dances; in New York at 92ndY and The CURRENT SESSIONS; in Phoenix at Breaking Ground Festival; in Monterrey, Mexico at Espacio Expectante; and in Bangkok, Thailand at CreativeMigration. Jay is a performer and directing associate with aerial spectacle theatre company Australia’s Sway Pole, where he has performed at the 2014 Olympics, the 2016 World EXPO, and the 2018 Super Bowl. Carlon has also performed with the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center, Palissimo, Oguri, No)one. Art House, and danced for Rodrigo y Gabriela on Jimmy Kimmel Live (choreographed by Annie-B Parson), in Solange Knowles’ art film Metronia (2018) choreographed by Gerard & Kelly, and was appointed Choreographic Associate for Kanye West's opera, Mary (2019). jaycarlon.com

/ @jaycarlon /