Deborah Jackson

I am a classically trained dancer, who in my formative years, toured internationally and domestically with a few famous folks (you know who you are).  During that tenure I had the opportunity to perform at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater, The Joyce, St. Marks Church and The Guggenheim to name a few spots around town.  After this period of touring, I transitioned to self-producing full-length evening works over a 10 year period.  As a choreographer my previous full-length evening works, Communication is Key and The Sleeping Giant were both performed at The Ailey Citigroup Theater. 
In addition to dancing in my own projects, I have been so fortunate to appear as a guest artist dancing with the New York City based Japanese company binbinFactory – Satoshi Haga and Rie Fukuzawa.  As a longtime admirer of binbinFactory’s witty and engaging dancemaking it is wonderful to explore their style in the studio with them which has culminated in several site specific performances in 2021 and 2022. 
I was fortunate to receive Mertz Gilmore Foundation’s Late-Stage Production Stipend for my latest evening length work Beauty in the Qi.  This enabled me to present a works-in-progress showing in 2022. In 2023 I was given the opportunity to share the first 18 minutes of this work as part of the Spring showcase at Spoke the Hub. I would like the next performance to be the project in its entirety.

In addition to dancing, I have had the humble privilege and honor to apprentice with several Grandmaster Teachers - Sifus to learn and advance my martial arts studies in both internal and external practices. Thanks to Shifu Peng for the years of study of the healing arts embodied in the lineage practice of Dan Ming/Elixir Light Qigong which he has certified me to teach and share elements of; thank you to Shifu Wu at Lotus Light Temple in Little China Town in Brooklyn for teaching me the powerful form of Chi-Lel Qigong based on the teaching and writings of Dr. Pang Ming; thank you to Grand Master Sifu Chen Ying for private study introducing me to the world of external practice which includes two-man fighting forms. As part of his unique style of Kung Fu, Sifu Chen weaves the internal practice forms of Taijichuan, Bagua and Qigong with an emphasis on their history and application as external practice based fighting forms. 
Blending the disciplines of the martial arts with classical dance has been a creative objective for several lifetimes. 
I am also a certified personal trainer with a Sports Medicine based specialization. Please check out the other tabs in this website for more details about Qigong and my Personal Training services.

CREDENTIALS

Qigong: Practitioner and Teacher / Certified to teach the lineage based practice of Dan Ming Qigong

Dominican College Department of Physical Therapy:
Movement Solution Concepts & Process as taught by Mark Comerford/ KNOSIS Physiotherapy & Wellness

International Sports Sciences Assoc. – ISSA:
Certified Personal Trainer

ISSA Sports Medicine Based Specialization:
Strength and Conditioning

NY Strength: Master of Fitness Design

BA: University of the Incarnate Word / San Antonio, TX