Beautiful People 2010: Jonté

You could refer to him as dancer, model or artist and no one would argue. But what Jonté truly is, is an experience. At five feet, nine inches and a mere 130 pounds, the New York-based force of nature is as legendary for his sultry, dance routines in stilettos as for his flawless chocolaty skin. On stage and off he whirls about in a dazzling array of costumes--from sequined leotards and feathered head dresses to highwaisted pants and chest-baring blouses. But spend five minutes alone with him and you'll be shocked to find the following: Jonté is shy.

"I keep a lot to myself," he explains. "I am very quiet and reserved in person. I only bring it on stage." That stage stretches from Harlem ballrooms to clubs in Hiroshima. Not surprisingly, his first professional venue was equally grand: the 2004 Super Bowl. He danced alongside Janet Jackson during the halftime show after Ms. Jackson personally requested he audition for her in L.A. "I'd auditioned for three years straight and had been turned down for every single gig--until then."

The job was a warm-up for his kinetic collaboration with another star, Beyoncé Knowles, whose music videos and concert performances he has choreographed until recently. "I helped make her Sasha more Fierce," he laughs. In addition to dancing his routines, Beyoncé featured him in her videos for "Freakum Dress" and "Get Me Bodied." A career spent transforming singers into dancers has inspired the dancer to transform himself into a singer.
ZANDILE BLAY

Jonté wears suspenders by Patricia Field,

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