Jamal Jackson Dance Company (JJDC) was founded with the purpose of fusing various traditional African dance styles with Modern techniques and diverse contemporary music styles to create a new, unique technique that is relevant to a multifarious community. JJDC’s study and movement language are initiated by forming the connections between the artistic and communal practices of the Bambara, Malinke, Wasalu, and Khassonke peoples of Mali, West Africa and the traditions and histories of people in the US. The movement and storylines of JJDC’s work focus on redefining ideas of community and blurring divisive lines, while still celebrating the beauty of individual cultures. JJDC’s mission is to create space and empower people to actively engage in their narratives while presenting work in different communities.

Jamal Jackson
Jamal Jackson was born in Brooklyn, New York and began his formal studies of movement with the Harlem based Batoto Yetu Dance Company. His pursuit of Biology and dance led him to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he received the Weston Award for his contribution to the Fusion Dance Company and New Works/ World Traditions African Dance Company from 1996-2000. Jamal studied with Michelle Bach-Coulibaly, Seydou Coulibaly, and Fred Benjamin and worked under M’ba Coulibaly, Salimata Soumare from Kelete Dance Theatre, and Ba Issa Diallo, director of Troupe District du Bamako in Mali, West Africa. Jamal performed with Ballet International Africans for two seasons as a principal dancer and in 2004 he founded the Jamal Jackson Dance Company. JJDC has established a strong presence in and out of New York City. The company’s work has been presented at venues including: Mark Morris Dance Center, Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, NYC Summerstage Concert Series, DanceNow Festival, DTW, Battery Downtown Dance Festival, Brown University, the Brooklyn Museum, Equality Now’s 20th Anniversary, Big Range Festival in Austin, TX, The Yard in Martha’s Vineyard, MA, Performance Spaces for the 21st Century in Chatham, NY, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, Pitt., GSUSA National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, Abundance Festival in Karlstad, Sweden, 92nd street Y, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Luther S. Allison
“He’s reamplifying the tradition of jazz piano and he’s lifting up a legacy that’s the foundation for many people” -New York Times. Accomplished multi-instrumentalist Luther S. Allison has forged a path on both piano and drum set, cementing himself as one of the leading voices of his generation in jazz.  Upon completing his B.A. in Studio Music and Jazz from the University of Tennessee and M.M. in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University Allison began a career steadily touring and recording on both instruments, supporting the likes of José James, Jazzmeia Horn, Samara Joy, Helen Sung, Rodney Whitaker, Etienne Charles, and The Baylor Project amongst others. Rated 4.5 stars by Downbeat, Allison’s debut album, I Owe It All To You was described as “a portrait of a straight-ahead pianist who seems to have no weak points in his arsenal” -Downbeat. Allison is also featured as a sideman on numerous projects – notably the GRAMMY Award-Winning single, Tight, supporting vocalist Samara Joy.  As a composer, Allison has already begun to leave an indelible mark, leading to him being commissioned by Wynton Marsalis to compose an original work for the esteemed Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Alongside his achievements as a musician/composer/music director, Allison is featured as both an actor and recorded musician on Maggie Gyllenhaal's film The Bride, contributing both on and off screen with several recorded tracks for the film score.

Rebecca Greenbaum
Rebecca Greenbaum was born and bred in Brooklyn, NY.  She holds a Masters in Fine Arts in Dance Performance from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and Bachelors in Science from Skidmore College. She has previously performed with XAOC Contemporary Ballet, Maverick Dance Experience, Brooklyn Contemporary Ballet Collective, INSPIRITdance/Christal Brown and apprenticed for ZviDance/Zvi Gotheiner. She has also presented work at Dixon Place in NYC, and in the Florence Dance Festival in Italy. She is a certified classical Pilates instructor and trains clients privately in NYC.

Karina Ikezoe
A Tokyo Native, Karina moved to the United States to attend college at Brown University, where she was a pre-med student and Neuroscience major. Upon graduating, however, she decided to put her medical school plans on hold (indefinitely, as it turns out) and move to New York City where she could pursue her passion for dance and the performing arts. While in the city, she has had the pleasure of performing the works of José Limón, Seán Curran, Terry Berliner, Vita Osojnik, Shani Collins, Christal Brown, and Nathan Trice, among others. She also starred as the lead in Black Moon Theater Company’s 2011 production of Salome, performed off-Broadway at the Flea Theater. In May of 2016, Karina completed her MFA in Dance and New Media at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she was awarded a full year scholarship and the Graduate Assistantship in the Video/Media department. Karina has been dancing with Jamal Jackson Dance Company since 2012.

Herne Jean-Baptiste
Herne Jean-Baptiste is a New York City-based artist from Miami, Florida. He was inspired in sixth grade to dance under the direction of the Ailey Camp Miami summer program for two years. For six years, he trained at RickyDanco on a full scholarship. He later attended the New World School of the Arts while participating at Armour Youth Ballet Conservatory. He also attended the Dance Theatre of Harlem for two summers on scholarship. He then continued his higher education at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance, where he graduated in Spring 2022 on full scholarship. He is a former apprentice dancer at PonyBox Dance Company, performed with Amahl Opera production, Peter London Global Dance Company and is currently with Jamal Jackson Dance Company.

Anne Later
Anne Later is a student and artist from New York City. She attended Saint Ann’s School, where she studied with Jamal Jackson, joining JJDC in 2023. She is a student at Barnard College of Columbia University, studying Art History and training in a range of disciplines under faculty including Tamisha Guy, Bo Park, and Ehizoje Azeke. She works at Downtown Dance Factory, her alma mater, and loves sharing her passion for dance with the next generation of artists!

Emily Pacilio
Emily Pacilio is a New York based performer, creator, and educator. She received her Bachelor of Science from Skidmore College. In addition to JJDC, Emily currently works with Trainor Dance, CabinFever, and the Little Streams, and she teaches modern dance to K-12th graders at Pierrepont School in CT. Emily’s collaborative interdisciplinary duo with partner Gavin Price (The Basics) has been presented at comedy venues and theaters throughout NYC.

Brion Vann
Brion Vann was born in Queens, NY. He began his dance, theater and instrumental training, as a four-year-old, at the Harlem School of the Arts (HSA).  At the age of eight he won a full scholarship to the School of American Ballet (SAB). As a child he danced in several professional dance companies: Renaissance II (HSA) and Batoto Yetu where he traveled the world including, Angola, China and London as well as meeting Jamal Jackson. He continued his dance training at  Virginia State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health with a minor in Dance and joined and held workshop for the campuses Dance Company SANKOFA under the direction of Benita Brown.  Upon graduation he joined the Forces of Nature Dance Company, under the direction of Abdel Salaam Brion has danced on many stages: Jacobs Pillow, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Apollo and shared the stage with: Whitney Houston, Usher, Stomp, Urban Bush Women, Chuck Davis, and countless others. Utilizing everything obtained in his twenty-six years of dance Brion created the Ugly Owl, his newest endeavor, which is a culmination of his life’s journey combining fashion and culture into tangible product. Brion is currently a. member of the Jamal Jackson Dance Company (JJDC) and a teaching artist for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.   

Sean Anthony Thomas
Dr. Sean Anthony Thomas is Physical Therapist and a NYC native with family roots from Nevis to Charleston, SC. Thomas graduated in 2003 with a BS in Psychology from Brown University. While attending Brown, Thomas danced with Fusion Dance Company for four years.  As director of the company for two years, he received the Weledi Visual/ Performing Arts Award in 2003. Dr. Thomas has danced with and helped to establish a variety of dance companies over the past 23 years. He is an author and the CEO of Be More Today, a fitness brand educating others on the benefits of staying always on the move.  Dr. Thomas has danced with Jamal Jackson Dance Company since its inception.

Zachary Desmond
NY Theater: Ivanov (New American Ensemble), Hooded, or, Being Black for Dummies (59E59 Theaters), There Are No Diving Pools in Hell (BCTR), The Leg. (Theater MITU), The Brothers Karamazov (New American Ensemble), Notice to Appear (workshops at La Mama, Mercury Store). Regional: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare on the Sound). Since 2022, he has developed work with over three dozen directors, choreographers, and artistic directors at the Mercury Store. Playwriting Fellow and O’Neill NPC semi-finalist for his play, TENT CITY. @zacharywdesmond

Jes Washington
Jes Washington is a NY actress, writer, and singer born in Memphis, TN. Her stage credits include Coping Mechanism; White Woman, Black Boy; North Carolina; Danny & the Deep Blue Sea; Who Will Sing for Lena; Clybourne Park; and Paradise Blue. Workshops include Deep Azure, Caucasian Chalk Circle, American Rot, Black Is Beauty, and The Great White Hope. Her film and TV credits include A Wall Apart, The Gilded Age, The Equalizer, and Half the History: Belinda Royale Story, and The Board. Her voice over credits include Greater Boston, and What’s the Frequency? Washington has been awarded Best Lead Actress, People’s Choice, Best Production, winner of AACT National Festival 2019 & 2021 and the 2021 Mondial du Théâtre in France. She holds an MFA and is a lifetime member of the Actors Studio.

Birgitta Victorson 
Originally from Upstate New York, Birgitta studied theater and dance at Northwestern University and was an original member of Billy Siegenfeld’s Jump Rhythm Jazz Company.  She received her MFA in Directing from Brown University and her work as a director, choreographer and devisor has been seen at UNC Chapel Hill, Trinity Rep, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, EST, Juilliard, Two River, The Pearl, The Civilians, Second City, Steppenwolf, The Goodman and Miloco Theater Company (Prague, CZ). Birgitta is co-chair of the Theater Department at Saint Ann’s School where she teaches acting and dance classes. She has previously collaborated with JJDC on Rob Day and Teeth.

Jahleel Hills
Jahleel Hills is a show-style snare drummer and filmmaker. He has been featured on numerous stages such as Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, and MetLife Stadium. He’s also been featured in the Netflix show “She’s Gotta Have It”, a Best Buy Commercial, performed at the VFiles Fashion Show,  with Demi Lovato on Good Morning America and in 2021, performed at the historic Pyer Moss Couture Fashion Show, which took place at Villa Lewaro – History of Madame Walker’s Estate. Hills is a SUNY Purchase Class of 2021 Graduate, earning his BFA in Film and is the founder of Hypeman Hills Productions which is currently producing a hybrid animated/live action Pilot “Squirrels of Central Park”.

Kofi Hunter 
Kofi Hunter is a dynamic composer, musician, and theater artist born and raised in Queens, NYC. With a rich ethnic heritage—his mother hailing from Mississippi and his father from Panama—Kofi’s diverse background informs his creative voice. Kofi has made significant contributions to the arts through his work with notable institutions such as the Classical Theatre of Harlem and the National Black Theatre. His innovative spirit was recognized with a New Works grant from the Queens Council of the Arts. As a composer of music and lyrics, he has served as musical director for the acclaimed production Ceremonies from In the Name of Mother Tree, which debuted at the Apollo Theatre. An accomplished musician, Kofi has performed alongside many great jazz artists and has led ensembles that showcase his original works and unique arrangements of some of his favorite pieces. His collaborations include notable names like Casey Benjamin, Robert Glasper, Aja Monet, Joel Ross, Marcus Gilmore, Nicholas Payton, Melanie Charles, Wyclef Jean, and Big Daddy Kane. His self-produced album, Nation Time, released in August 2020, reflects his distinctive blend of influences and commitment to artistic expression.

Lytefoot Athletics 
Lytefoot Athletics presents a high-energy Double Dutch performance blending speed, tricks and dance, followed by a brief interactive teaching segment where audience members can learn the basics and jump in.