Through a long dedicated and humbling 3 year journey, JazWalk Los Angeles is excited to share the launch of its very 1st dance program on March 26th 2018, the program is located in South Central Los Angeles at Messiah Lutheran Church.  Through this partnership will offer the community  a dance after-school program, spring break dance camp and Summer dance camp targeting high risk youth ages 5-17  from low-income families. Our goal is to provide a safe environment that will help our youth explore their passions creatively through the art of dance while also helping expand the resources and ministry of Messiah Lutheran to the community.

The purpose of this campaign is to raise funds that will help create the appropriate and  suitable  environment to offer dance lessons. Due to the Church's facility being older, there are renovations that are in the process of being made, but until that time JazWalk is responsible to provide its own dance flooring, mirrors and audio system. We would also like to mention that snacks will be provided in these programs and are asking for donations in that area as well to help us stay stocked up. Below is a list of the items needed:

• Snap Flooring  (dimensions 15x15) $1300 this size can fit up to 30 people      http://www.snaplockdancefloors.com/portable-dance-floor-styles/oak-dance-floor/
• 3 Portable Rolling Glass-less Mirrors $645 each     https://www.gtechfitness.com/glassless-mirrors/
• 2 Portable Bluetooth speakers $299 each https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-loudr-powered-2-way-wireless-speaker-each-black/5560900.p?skuId=5560900
• Admin supplies $200
• Snacks $500

ABOUT FOUNDER

JazWalk founder Keana Jacobs, has over 20 years of experience as a professional dance instructor. A dancer since the age of nine, Ms. Jacobs got her start performing in LA area talent shows, showcasing her passion for dance and choreography at an early age. By age 12, Keana began formal dance training at Hawthorne Dance Academy. In her first year with the program, she received the coveted “dancer of the year” award. The passion that led her to participate in shows at 9, grew into a desire to share her gift with others. As a result, she began serving as an instructor at the age of 15. Her warm disposition and high level of energy benefited her in this role, translating as attributes that served her well when teaching others. Keana continued her training as a student at Paul Kennedy Dance School in 1996, and later became one of the lead dancers with Zenith Dance Company, where she remained until 2000. With Zenith, Ms. Jacobs had the opportunity to perform in various programs, including competitions and shows for up-and-coming artists. Out of 500 dancers, she was selected as one of the 15 Spotlight Awards semifinalists and was a competitor for the NAACP ACTSO awards held in Atlanta. In 2000, Ms. Jacobs began training at El Camino College where she studied business management and dance history. She also became a member of El Camino’s dance company, Qui Geometer, through which she met professional dancer and choreographer, Katisha Adams. Under Ms. Adams, Keana danced in her first music video, “Monica Monica”, by recording artists, Before Dark. The partnership with Keana Adams proved productive. While with Ms. Adams, Ms. Jacobs had the opportunity to work with legendary dancer/choreographer Debbie Allen for two years, performing as the African queen in Ms. Allen’s production, the Chocolate Nut Cracker. 

        After a brief hiatus, Ms. Jacobs returned to the stage to perform at the 2007 BET Awards as part of the opening performance with comedian, Monique. Being relentlessly results orientated and dedicated to achieving the highest possible standards, Keana has a gift to inspire passion in her students. Her comfort level and confidence teaching large groups of children in a classroom setting has enabled her to develop a successful track record of improving students’ knowledge and understanding of dance. Keana has experience teaching all age groups and not only understands the needs of students, but also has the ability to quickly engage with them. During her career she has taught in private dance schools, after-school programs, for church youth groups and has choreographed in high school and college productions. In addition to this she is trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip hop and tap, along with some specialty styles such as African, and swing.

Keana is very passionate about uplifting youth that are victims of environments stricken by substance abuse, parental neglect and violence. She knows how much this affects a child from first hand experience. After losing her parents tragically as a child due to them both suffering from substance abuse lifestyles and her grandmother who raised her passing away from a heart attack all occuring within a 3-year period before the age of 10. Keana is no stranger to pain and loss. Even though she received counseling, dance was the most effective therapy. Dance classes allowed her to be free. Once she realized how much dance helped her, she knew it could help others. She looks forward to extending the same love that dance offered to her to help inspire others. JazWalk Los Angeles will also expose youth to an array of opportunities, while teaching them the importance of giving back to their own communities and getting involved to make a difference.