Zhané Jackson
She/Her
Zhané is an experienced dancer, choreographer, instructor, and community organizer/advocate. Her career began as a founding member of New Black City—a Hip Hop dance collective established in 2016, dedicated to preserving cultural heritage and fostering community through performance. They’ve opened up and performed for artists such as Kehlani, Leikeli47, and Rico Nasty, performing at renowned Minnesota venues like First Avenue Mainroom, The Varsity Theatre, The Lab and many more!
Alongside her collective work, Zhané has cultivated a distinctive personal style that blends Hip Hop with Contemporary influences. Her commitment to both performance and education has led her to work with institutions including Hothouse MPLS, House of Dance, Mobile Jazz Project, and SPCPA where she has contributed inclusive dance curricula for students of all ages.
In recent years, freestyle dance has emerged as a significant aspect of her artistic evolution. Battling under the name TENACITY, she has made a mark in the competitive freestyle scene, specializing in both Hip Hop and House. This dynamic practice allows her to explore improvisational movement and push technical boundaries, continuously informing her choreographic work and performance style. More recently, Zhané’s evolution as a dancer has been further enriched by her involvement as a company member of Ananya Dance Theatre Company.
Alongside these endeavors, Zhané has launched initiatives like The New Skool—a free Hip Hop dance intensive aimed at supporting BIPOC femme dancers—and established Discover Your Mode, a program dedicated to building a connected dance community through workshops, panels, and community gatherings!