List of Choreographers Who Smoke Weed

• Cannabis use spans dance genres – From ballet to burlesque, professional dancers across disciplines report using cannabis or CBD for recovery and creativity, though effects vary by person and dose
• Therapeutic approaches vary widely – Some dancers like James Moore use exclusively CBD products, while others like Laganja Estranja advocate for full-spectrum THC
• LGBTQ+ performers lead cannabis advocacy – Drag performers and queer choreographers are at the forefront of normalizing cannabis in the dance world, with Laganja Estranja becoming one of the first LGBTQ+ entertainers featured on a cannabis magazine cover
• Social media is reshaping perceptions – TikTok choreographers like Kai Jmarii openly discuss how cannabis fuels their viral content, reaching millions of viewers
• Wellness entrepreneurship is emerging – Dancers like Nika Antuanette are building businesses that combine mindful movement with cannabis experiences through her company BlissIn Out
• Historical context matters – The dance world’s relationship with cannabis spans nearly a century, from Jazz Age ‘tea pads’ to today’s CBD recovery protocols

As a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts and drag performer, Laganja Estranja (Jay Jackson) represents the intersection of elite dance training and outspoken cannabis advocacy. She says she was the first LGBTQ+ entertainer featured on the cover of a cannabis magazine (commonly cited as DOPE Magazine, often dated 2015) and has performed alongside celebrities like Madonna and Jennifer Lopez while being open about her cannabis use.

• Professional credentials: U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts (2007); B.F.A. in Dance & Choreography from California Institute of the Arts
• Cannabis approach: Prefers dabs; uses full-spectrum THC for both what she describes as medical necessity and creative enhancement
• Creative breakthrough: Used cannabis while choreographing her Presidential Scholar performance at the Kennedy Center after being “stuck creatively”
• Advocacy impact: Featured on cover of DOPE Magazine (commonly dated 2015); covered by major publications including Forbes and cannabis media
• Personal health: Uses cannabis for pain management after a college dance injury; she has described herself as “most likely” manic-depressive but has stated she’s not formally diagnosed

For those interested in cannabis for creative enhancement, exploring different cannabis strains can help identify options that support artistic flow without overwhelming effects.

At just 21 years old (at the time of a 2022 interview with approximately 1.2 million TikTok followers), Kai Jmarii has built a massive social media following with dance videos that have garnered millions of views. He openly credits cannabis for unlocking his freestyle improvisation and creating his most viral content, representing a new generation of dancers who normalize cannabis use.

• Social reach: Millions of TikTok views and followers; followed by Rihanna who praised his work via direct message
• Cannabis relationship: Uses cannabis specifically for creative enhancement and freestyle improvisation
• Viral breakthrough: States that “a lot of the time, my most viral videos went viral because I was high”
• Creative process: “When I smoke weed, I freestyle. I come up with different moves… It just opens me to different types of moves and I love how music sounds when I’m high”
• Cultural impact: Openly gay Black dancer from The Bronx using his platform to normalize both cannabis use and LGBTQ+ identity

For dancers seeking similar creative enhancement, finding dispensaries near you with knowledgeable staff can help identify products that support improvisational movement.

As a professional contemporary dancer and founder of BlissIn Out, Nika Antuanette represents the holistic integration of cannabis into dance practice. She reports using both CBD and THC for different purposes—CBD topicals for fascial release work and edibles for recovery—while facilitating mindful movement experiences that incorporate cannabis.

• Professional approach: Contemporary dancer specializing in improvisation and somatic practices
• Cannabis integration: Creates her own CBD edibles after recognizing smoking wasn’t ideal for her body
• Wellness philosophy: “Cannabis often allows for more freedom of expression; I can explore different movement patterns, and it often amplifies the current state I am in”
• Mindful practice: “The addition of cannabis before improvising reminds me of the Eternal Now. Everything is happening in the present moment, and change is the only constant”
• Business innovation: Hosts “BlissIn Out experiences” combining mindful movement with intentional cannabis use

For those interested in similar wellness approaches, Herb’s cannabis edibles guide features information about various consumption methods that might support a dancer’s lifestyle, including topicals for recovery and edibles for mindful consumption.

As a principal dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet, James Moore represents a breakthrough in the traditionally conservative ballet world. He’s one of the more visible principal dancers at a major U.S. company to speak publicly about using CBD products to manage arthritis in his sacroiliac joint.

• Career achievement: Principal dancer position at Pacific Northwest Ballet (promoted to principal in 2013)
• Cannabis approach: Uses exclusively CBD products (capsules, tinctures, topical creams) for pain management
• Reported benefit: “I wake up feeling more refreshed, with my muscles more pliable. I get a really direct benefit where I have arthritis in the SI joint in my back, and I’m less sore overall, without popping pain relievers containing harsh chemicals”
• Cultural significance: Breaking stigma in ballet’s traditionally anti-drug environment
• Personal perspective: Moore has said he feels CBD helped him manage soreness; however, clinical evidence for over-the-counter CBD products reducing chronic pain remains contested

For ballet dancers and other performers seeking non-psychoactive options, Herb’s educational content on CBD vs THC can provide guidance on cannabinoid-focused approaches.

As a burlesque choreographer and performer, Mia the MVP represents the unique physical demands of theatrical dance forms. In interviews, she describes using cannabis to ease the muscular tension from high-heel and corset performances while unlocking the confident stage presence essential to burlesque artistry.

• Performance style: Burlesque dance combining theatrical elements with sensual movement
• Physical demands: Reports using cannabis to manage tension from restrictive costumes (corsets, high heels)
• Stage presence: Says cannabis helps unlock performance confidence and authentic expression
• Cultural representation: Featured artist in Rebelle x Honeysuckle’s “Need Weed” campaign
• Community impact: Represents the shift toward cannabis acceptance in alternative performance communities

For burlesque performers and theatrical dancers, exploring cannabis products for muscle relaxation can address the unique physical demands of costume-based performance.

As a New York City–raised breakdancer from hip-hop’s early era, Mario “Weed Warrior” Ramos traces cannabis use back to street-level dance roots. His journey from breaking and graffiti to cannabis advocacy documents the historical connection between hip-hop culture and cannabis that continues today.

• Cultural roots: New York City–based breakdancer from hip-hop’s foundational era
• Advocacy identity: Explicitly identifies as “Weed Warrior” in his cannabis advocacy work
• Historical perspective: Bridges old-school hip-hop culture with contemporary cannabis acceptance
• Community focus: Integrates cannabis advocacy into broader community wellness initiatives
• Cultural documentation: His path from street dance to cannabis advocacy is documented in feature interviews

For dancers interested in the historical connection between street dance and cannabis, Herb’s cannabis culture guides include content on cannabis influence across various art forms.

As a burlesque and pole performer, Sweet Ms. Candace (Candace Cane) represents the physically demanding world of pole dancing. In interviews, she describes using cannabis for recovery from the intense physical requirements of pole work while maintaining the creative focus needed for theatrical performance.

• Performance demands: Pole dancing requires exceptional upper body strength and flexibility
• Recovery approach: Reports using cannabis for pain management and physical recovery from high-intensity performance
• Creative balance: Describes maintaining artistic focus while managing physical demands through plant medicine
• Detailed perspective: Shares in-depth insights about balancing performance intensity with recovery needs
• Community representation: Highlights the specific recovery needs of pole and aerial performers

For pole dancers and aerialists seeking similar recovery support, Herb’s strain finder can help identify strains suitable for relaxation and muscle recovery after intense physical performance.

Cannabis has appeared in multiple performing-arts subcultures over time—especially during Jazz Age nightlife (including the documented ‘tea pads’ of the 1920s-30s), counterculture eras, and within hip-hop communities. The 1960s-70s counterculture era saw experimentation with consciousness expansion in modern dance, while hip-hop’s street dance culture integrated cannabis through its foundational years. The 2000s witnessed drag performers like Laganja Estranja using cannabis to enhance theatrical expression, and recent years have seen ballet professionals like James Moore discuss CBD openly. Social media has accelerated acceptance, with choreographers like Kai Jmarii reaching millions while openly discussing cannabis’s role in their creative process.

Many professional dancers describe shifting from casual cannabis use toward intentional integration into their practice. Laganja Estranja’s evolution from recreational use to viewing cannabis as medicine mirrors Nika Antuanette’s structured approach to combining mindful movement with plant medicine. This shift reflects broader trends in the dance world, where performers increasingly make intentional choices about how cannabis supports their specific needs—whether for pain management, creative enhancement, or performance recovery. For dancers seeking similar intentional approaches, Herb’s cannabis education resources can guide informed decisions about cannabis integration.

Professional dancers are increasingly building businesses that combine their performance expertise with cannabis wellness. Nika Antuanette’s BlissIn Out represents this entrepreneurial approach, creating experiences that merge mindful movement with intentional cannabis use. Similarly, Laganja Estranja has partnered with multiple cannabis brands including MedMen and LEVO Oil, leveraging her performance credentials to advocate for quality products. This entrepreneurial trend reframes cannabis from purely recreational use into wellness practices that some report support both dance performance and recovery.