Jhesus “Yizus” Aponte of Los Angeles on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Jhesus “Yizus” Aponte and have shared our conversation below.

Jhesus “Yizus”, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
People often think JAWDX (Jhesus Aponte World Dance Xperience) is just about dance about steps, rhythm, or performance. But it’s much more than that.
It’s a movement built from a lifetime of stories, cultures, and human connections. Through dance, we teach people to express, to heal, to lead, and to see themselves as art.

What many don’t see is the emotional and spiritual work behind what we do helping artists find their confidence, rediscover their identity, and use movement as a language of purpose. JAWDX is not only a brand; it’s a bridge between worlds, Puerto Rico, Los Angeles, Europe, Australia and a reminder that rhythm can unite us beyond borders.

At its core, it’s about transformation. Dance is just the tool; humanity is the real choreography.

People think JAWDX is about dance, but it’s really about transformation helping people move with purpose and reconnect to who they are.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jhesus Aponte, and I’m the founder and creative director of JAWDX (Jhesus Aponte World Dance Xperience). I’m a Puerto Rican dancer, choreographer, and movement coach whose career has taken me across the world, from Puerto Rico to NYC, to Los Angeles, Italia, Europe , England, São Paulo, Australia and beyond.

I’ve had the honor of performing with legendary artists such as Michael Jackson, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Víctor Manuelle, Olga Tañón, Karol G and many others who inspired me to merge stage artistry with emotional storytelling. That journey led me to build JAWDX, a global dance experience that fuses Latin, Caribbean, and contemporary movement into one language the language of human connection.

What makes my brand unique is its purpose: JAWDX isn’t just about dance; it’s about transformation. It’s where culture, rhythm, and identity come together to remind us that movement can heal, empower, and unite people across borders.

I’m currently working on an exciting new project; the creation of a new musical titled “Soy AfroRican”, alongside Executive Producer and Creator Lucas Rivera, and Music Producer/Director Jhan Lee “TossTones” Aponte, my son. It’s a story that celebrates heritage, rhythm, and the power of Afro-Caribbean identity, told through music, dance, and soul.

At the heart of everything I do, my mission remains the same: to move people, not just physically, but emotionally and culturally.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I remember being a little kid in Puerto Rico, dancing barefoot in my living room to the sound of salsa. There was no audience, no stage, just music filling the space and my body responding to it naturally. In that moment, I wasn’t trying to impress anyone; I was simply free.

That’s when I first felt powerful, when I realized that rhythm could move through me and transform energy into emotion. I didn’t know it then, but that feeling would become the foundation of my entire life.

Power, to me, has never been about control or fame, it’s about connection. It’s about using your gift to awaken something in others, the same way that music awakened me that day.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me presence. Success moves fast, applause fades, lights change, flights take off, but pain slows you down long enough to feel who you really are.

Every challenge I’ve faced, from personal loss to moments of professional uncertainty, reminded me that resilience isn’t built on strength alone, but on vulnerability.
Pain became my greatest teacher because it showed me how to turn emotion into expression, and struggle into movement.

That’s the soul behind my projects: they were born not just from achievement, but from survival, from learning that art can turn even the heaviest stories into light.
From struggle came rhythm, and from rhythm came healing, that’s the soul of my art.
Pain slowed me down long enough to find who I really am.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in the entertainment industry is that visibility equals value. That if you’re not being seen, you’re not succeeding. But real artistry isn’t measured in likes, followers, or trends, it’s measured in the lives you touch and the truth you express through your craft.

In dance, especially, people often confuse perfection with purpose. I’ve learned that what moves audiences isn’t flawless technique, it’s honest emotion. The stage is just a mirror; it reflects whatever you bring to it.

At JAWDX, I remind my dancers that our worth isn’t up for validation, we create because it’s who we are, not because the world is watching.
Visibility doesn’t equal value, real artistry lives in truth, not in trends.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m finally doing what I was born to do but it took me years to unlearn what I was told to do.

Where I come from, talent is celebrated but also doubted. People love you, but they also warn you: “Be realistic. Don’t dream too big. Don’t risk too much.” And for a long time, I tried to make myself smaller to fit a version of success that wasn’t mine. I followed the path that felt “safe,” the one that made others comfortable, not me.

But purpose has a way of knocking on your door until you open it.

Dance was never just movement for me it was identity, language, survival, and destiny. Every time I tried to walk away from it, life pushed me back into a studio, onto a stage, into a room full of music and possibility. At some point I understood: this isn’t a choice, this is a calling.

The moment I stopped asking for permission and started listening to my own instincts, everything aligned the projects, the countries, the stages, the mentorship, the artistry, the students, the creative direction, my voice. My work stopped being a job and became an extension of who I am.

So yes, today I’m doing what I was born to do.
And the beautiful part?
I get to help other people unlearn what they were told to do so they can step into who they were meant to be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jhesusaponte.com
• Instagram: @Jhesusaponte
• Facebook: Jhesus Aponte – Choreographer https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id
• Youtube: @jhesusaponte
• Other: TikTok: @jhesusaponte

Image Credits
Photography: Montani Studios -Milano, Italia