Jay Jackson, born and raised in Dallas, Texas, where he graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, is now entering his third year as a dance major at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California.

Beginning his career as a musical theatre performer, Jay toured nationally with "The Will Rodgers Follies" starring Larry Gatlin. In addition to his love of performance, Jay found an new artistic outlet through choreography. As a member of the BTWHSPVA select group, “The Entertainers,” he was chosen to choreograph several musicals, including "Cabaret" and "Suessical: The Musical."

Allowing him the utmost freedom to explore new movement vocabularies combining dance and theatre, choreography has become Jay’s greatest passion. Migrating from musical theatre to modern dance, he has created more than fifteen pieces. His best known piece remains “not today,” for which he was recognized as a 2007 Presidential Scholar. Jay and his ensemble performed his award winning piece at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in June, 2007.

Jay seeks collaboration with other artists because he believes art is enhanced best through communication, cooperation, and sharing of experiences. He hopes to one day own his own dance company.

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