This month and in the future, the Mavs will continue to elevate the experiences and perspectives of Black players, coaches, employees, entertainers and fans through various activations and community events. We also continue to shine the spotlight on a new era of young Black men and women trailblazing a path for future generations to follow.
Jenna Jackson is making her NBA debut this season with the Dallas Mavericks D-Town Crew. She’s a professional dance veteran after spending six years in the NFL, including two years as a team captain. Performance has always been in Jackson’s DNA. She grew up as the daughter of two entertainers and her mom was signed with Sony Epic. Meanwhile, her father was one of two guys to teach and sell the Moonwalk to Michael Jackson. Jackson grew up in a military family and lived in South Korea the final two years of high school where she continued to cheer and dance. She said those two years changed the trajectory of her entire life. Prior to then, she was a multi-sport athlete and competed in numerous sports and activities throughout her life. Jackson says she’s proud of her biracial and diverse background. Her father is Black and her mother is Puerto Rican and Norwegian.
“Being biracial you’d think that everyone is so accepting and welcoming but it’s actually quite the opposite,” Jackson said. “You’re not fully accepted in the white community and not fully accepted in the black community. It always confused me growing up because I knew how my family was. We were so welcoming to any and everyone, but out in the world it wasn’t the same. I always pushed to be the best at whatever it was just to prove myself to both sides of my race.”
Jackson said her life experiences ultimately made her stronger and now she’s on a mission to help the next generation embrace their full identity without shame.
Mavs.com caught up with Jackson to learn more about her life and journey to the Mavs…
CAREER:Full-time Realtor but also does hair and makeup for weddings and events
Mavs.com: Hi Jenna! Before we talk about Black History Month, can you share more about your life with our fans? Where did you grow up?
Jackson: I grew up in La Habra, California. My Parents were both entertainers so it has always been in my blood to entertain. Mom was a singer and Dad was a dancer. My mom was signed with Sony Epic before having my oldest brother and decided being a mom was what she was meant to do. My Dad danced on Solid Gold, Breakin’ 1 & 2, Soul Train, and was one of two guys to teach and sell the Moonwalk to Michael Jackson. I have two older brothers who I’m very close with. We were always trying to be better than the other at everything from board games to sports. I’ve always been heavily involved in sports.
I played baseball, softball, gymnastics, ice skating and cheerleading. When I was a junior in high school my step dad joined the Army and we were stationed overseas in South Korea for my last two years of high school. It was the most amazing experience of my life and it truly changed the trajectory of where I thought I’d be.
Living in and embracing an entirely different culture opened my eyes up to so much. It humbles you as a human being and makes you see the world more colorfully. I cheered at Seoul American High School and during my time there I had the chance to meet the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on their annual USO tour to visit the troops. They put on this huge glamorous show for the troops and their families during Christmas and I was blown away. I knew at that moment that I wanted to pursue professional dancing.
The DCC threw a cheer clinic for my high school and that’s when I met the girls face to face. A few of the girls approached me and encouraged me to audition when I turned 18, so I took that and ran with it! In April of 2012, my mom and I jumped on a 12-hour flight to Dallas to audition for DCC. I was SO terrified. I was so young and I truly don’t even understand how I had that much confidence to do something so big at such a young age. But low and behold, I did and by God’s grace I made the team my first try.
I cheered for DCC for six years and served as one of the captains for two years. It was truly some of the most amazing years of my life and that’s what later would bring me to the Dallas Mavericks. I’ve known [Mavs’ D-Town Crew] director Stephanie DiBiase for years. She was one of our guest choreographers every year and always was the most encouraging, fun, and upbeat person. When I retired from DCC in 2018 I went through a little bit of a dance hiatus for three years. When I saw Stephanie announce the D-Town crew something drew me to it. I was coming out of dancing for three years and was once again nervous for such a big opportunity but I knew with Steph leading us it would be the perfect fit.
Making the D-Town crew team brought back my love for dance and I am forever thankful to experience being on a team full of such beautiful, talented, and diverse teammates.
Mavs.com: What has been your experience since joining D-Town? When do you come alive and feel the strongest?
Jackson: I feel the most alive and strongest dancing next to my teammates on the court. When we perform together our energy is literally bouncing off the walls! We have the best time at practice learning and listening to one another. I’ve never been on a team that is so diverse and so talented on many levels. Each of us has something different to offer. We’re like a beautiful bouquet, All so different but together we shine.
Mavs.com: Each February, the Dallas Mavericks and NBA community come together to celebrate Black History Month and the incredible leaders in the game like you. What makes you most proud of your heritage? What does Black History mean to you?
Jackson: I am incredibly proud to be a biracial woman. My Dad is Black and my Mom is half Puerto Rican Half Norwegian. Growing up biracial definitely was interesting. Although my parents never made me feel different and always taught my brothers and I to love and accept everyone no matter where they come from or what they look like, that wasn’t always the case when it came to others looking at me.
I had two very different experiences in school. When I lived in California my school was primarily white and Hispanic with only four black people in total including me. When I moved to Korea my military school consisted of mostly black and Korean kids. Being biracial you’d think that everyone is so accepting and welcoming but it’s actually quite the opposite. You’re not fully accepted in the white community and not fully accepted in the black community. It always confused me growing up because I knew how my family was. We were so welcoming to any and everyone, but out in the world it wasn’t the same. I always pushed to be the best at whatever it was just to prove myself to both sides of my race. It made me stronger. Like I said before I’m proud to be a biracial woman and the reason is because I see everyone for who they are and not what they look like.
Mavs.com: On that note, can you share with us a Black or African American man or woman who had the most impact on your life? Who gets your Lifetime Achievement Award?
JACKSON: My Grandpa Ervin is one of the people who has inspired me most in my life. My Grandpa Erivin is my dad’s father and he was one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen. My Grandpa loved this country. He went straight from high school to proudly serving our country in the Army for four years. This allowed him the opportunity to secure a position with the Sears Roebuck Corporation. He worked for Sears well over 30 years until retirement. During this time he encouraged my brothers and I to work hard in school and further our education. He believed education was a means to independence and freedom.
Mavs.com: What an incredible and inspiring man! Well since you mentioned your grandfather’s advice, what would be your advice to young people who want to follow in your footsteps?
JACKSON: You can do whatever you set your mind to. I grew up in the cheerleading world. I didn’t have professional dance technique training and I became a professional dancer. You don’t need to be the best technical dancer in the room to be the best, if you can master the art of performing you can make it in the dance world! Far too many times I see young dancers give up on their dreams of performing because they are scared that there’s someone better than them. There’s always going to be someone better than you, you can’t control that. What you can control is the steps you take on a day-to-day basis that gets you closer to that dream. You have to be your own biggest fan.
Mavs.com: What can we do better to encourage a new generation of young Black boys and girls to pursue their dance dreams in this industry?
JACKSON: The best encouragement I would give to young athletes is to be yourself. Be strong no matter what gets thrown your way and don’t let outside influences change what is meant for you.
Mavs.com: A little self-reflecting here, but what do you think is your gift to the world?
JACKSON: I believe my gift to the world is to inspire, lift-up, and love. I think that this world can be SO suffocating at times. Especially in the day and age we live in now. Everyone is always comparing themselves to each other. Kids are looking in the mirror and thinking they aren’t pretty enough, or they aren’t skinny enough. We need to learn to love each other. We need to learn to light people up when they are down and to talk about things. So many suffer in silence and it is so important to check on the people around you, let them know they are loved and they are important.
I feel the most proud of myself when I can make others smile. That’s why performing is so important to me. Seeing a kid in the crowd smiling back at me when I’m dancing or when I’m running off the court and I high five someone brings me pure joy.
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