Adrienne D. Jackson was born and raised in Durham, NC. Her dance life began as a child in jazz, ballet and tap. She “grew up” in West African dance as a member of Alayanfé (which means “the chosen ones”), a youth dance company, under the direction of the late Dr. Chuck Davis, Artistic Director of the African American Dance Ensemble in North Carolina. Adrienne danced with Baba and Alayanfé from the age of 8 through high school. During high school she was formally introduced to modern and contemporary dance by Lara Hamblen at Jordan High School. Over the years, her modern and contemporary study expanded to Becca Lemme at Lou Conte Dance School in Chicago; Nick Owens of Kenyetta Dance Company in Indianapolis; and Nicki Springer of Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre in Chicago.
She has served as Assistant Artistic Director of Iibada Dance Company under the direction of Mama Sabra Logan before performing for 5 seasons with Kenyetta Dance Company in Indianapolis. Adrienne has directed local dance ministries including Hosanna! Dance, which she founded in 2002, as well as at Mount Pleasant MBC where she currently serves as Director of Divine Inspiration. Adrienne danced for 2 years with The Moving Company as a guest dancer back in 2006 and she has worked with the students as a guest choreographer and teacher since 2008.
In 2012, Adrienne founded Create Freedom Arts Projects, Inc (CFAP), a contemporary modern dance company and community of artists. CFAP brought Adrienne to Performers’s Edge in 2013, and when the location of their school changed, Adrienne continued teaching Contemporary for both Performer’s Edge as well as Ballet Theatre of Carmel Academy.
Adrienne is currently furthering her dance training in West African Dance with Mama Ronne Stone of Epiphany Dance Collective in Indianapolis, and in Hip Hop with Jarrett Weathers.