Artist Spotlight: Jamar "Jammer" Welch

"[Be] prideful for who we are. The style. The rhythm. The creativity that is in us." - Jammer

We often consider the limelight a commander of the artist, a power that grants voice to performance, glimmering with the chance of being seen. There are, however, a few who flip the relationship between shine and artist by beckoning the light itself; Bay Area Creative’s Jamar “Jammer” is one of those few.

Stages, rehearsals, performances, and a red curtain; the world of theatrics has followed Jamar since before his birth, his mother being a playwright and poet herself. Under her influence, Jamar entered the sphere of dance at the East Bay Center of Performing Arts, which quickly became a steadfast home for his career development. Here, he quickly encountered his first chance to take center stage with his mother’s play, “The Old Lady and the Deli Boy” - he was not, however, included in the original ensemble. It was one dire show night when a performer unexpectedly dropped out last minute, and despite being only nine years old, Jamar had memorized all the lines and choreography. That desperate night turned into a launchpad for the young dancer, as he worked the stage as well as any casted member.

Jamar’s start at East Bay Center for Performing Arts was only a humble beginning. He originally began teaching hip-hop at the institution as a form of community service, but his exceptional abilities were abundantly clear; not only does he teach skill, but he also passes the value of experience, dedication, and knowledge - and though he continues to teach there today, the artist has lived a myriad of lives since then. At 18 years old, East Bay Center for Performing Arts offered him a proper position, and his career skyrocketed quickly. By the age of 20, Jamar had been invited to teach both nationally and internationally. Upon his exponential growth, he took his career out of the Bay Area and to Los Angeles, where an encounter with producer Travis Payne opened a multitude of doors.

Thanks to his connection with Payne, Jamar was thrust into the glamorous yet coveted world of Hollywood, where he found the opportunity to dance with Usher in his “Magic Hour” tour. He continued to perform alongside Madonna, Beyoncé, Eddie Murphy, and Michael Jackson, among many others. While some of his performances were live and took place on stage, he also worked in front of the camera, starring in music videos, award shows, and commercials.

Though Jamar spent a fulfilling 13 years in LA, he eventually moved back home to the Bay Area, where he confesses to the difference in culture. “People here are artists for art’s sake,” he reflects, noting on the sacrifice of authenticity that often comes with the glitz and sparkle of mainstream Hollywood. And though he has spent his time among the lights, cameras, and red carpets, struggle is not a foreign concept to Jamar; the artist remembers numerous injuries, some of which occur while on tour. Additionally, low pay and disrespect among performers are common occurrences, despite their immense investment. “It feels like we’re at the bottom of the totem pole, sometimes,” Jamar confesses. Despite ongoing cycles of hardship, however, he continues to show up - as an artist, teacher, and lover of the craft. It is something he continues to do as innately as the act of breathing.

"People here are artists for art's sake."

As of recently, Jamar remained a dancer for Oakland trio Tony! Toni! Toné! until member D’Wayne Wiggins’s solemn death this past March. Since then, Jamar has continued to exercise his teaching skills through Bay Area Creative, working with students 4 times a week in after-school programs across Richmond. He additionally teaches for East Bay Center for Performing Arts, as well as develops choreography for other dance groups. His steadfast and genuine dedication to teaching the Bay Area’s youth has impacted the community greatly; last October, Jamar was presented with an award of recognition from the city of Richmond, which included a short documentary in his honor. In addition to his teaching accomplishments, the performer celebrated the publication of his poetry book, Alive and Well, this past summer. Currently, he is working on further collections of poetry and his upcoming memoir, aimed at merging the various experiences that have shaped him.

Like all artists, dedication and grit are Jamar's ultimate guides to his current achievements. He credits his influences, which include his mother, daughter, and students, as well as hardship, as testaments to his growth. Like pieces of an ever-complex puzzle, they stitch his life together into a mural of endless shapes, colors, and stories, all of which he works to pass to future generations of artists. From the son of a poetess-playwright, to a Hollywood contact, and back home to a Bay Area legend, Jamar reminds us to “be careful about the way you inspire,” and that at the heart of it all, the most significant aspect of true artistry is “just being proud and prideful for who we are. The style. The rhythm. The creativity that is in us.”