Don Jackson

Artist Bio

Don Jackson has been studying traditional African dance and drumming for over 25 years. He has worked with Muntu Dance Theater, Najwa Dance Corps and Joel Hall Dancers. Don holds a B.A. in black political development from the University of Minnesota. 

Artist Statement

Teaching black aesthetics allows me the chance to enhance the self-esteem of people in general, and black youth in particular. I do this by combining the feeling derived from dance and music mixed with the knowledge I have in Black history, politics, and philosophy.

It is said that one should go to East Africa to see the wild life and ecology, and to West Africa to see the people and indigenous cultural arts. According to the traditions of West African culture, there is no separation between music, dance and theatre. All the disciplines are expressions of spiritual and familial beliefs, and these events are celebrated in specific ways.  Each social occasion, whether it be birth, death or marriage, has its own type of music and dance.