HERBBIE MACCIO DEEVANTAE JENKINS
HERBBIE MACCIO DEEVANTAE JENKINS was born in Torrance, California, and raised in South Los Angelesuntil the age of 14. At a pivotal moment in his youth, he was faced with the pressure of joining a local street gang. Fortunately, a life-changing decision by his mother to relocate to Simi Valley redirected his path and opened the door to a new environment—one where he discovered both freedom and purpose through dance.
In Simi Valley, Jenkins founded the dance group INSTANT REPLAY, performing regularly for Club "Say No to Drugs and Alcohol." The group quickly gained recognition, winning talent shows and becoming a positive force in the community.
His passion and dedication earned him a scholarship to Cornish College of the Arts, along with a FULL SCHOLARSHIP to study at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. After completing his senior year at Cornish, he joined Spectrum Dance Theater in Seattle, Washington, where he spent SIX SEASONS as a PRINCIPAL DANCER. During this time, he became a prominent face of the company while also directing his own pre-professional hip-hop company, STREET LEVEL DANCE.
Jenkins has trained with some of the world’s most respected jazz dancers and choreographers, including LUIGI, ANN REINKING, DANIEL EZRALOW, MAGALI MESSAC, RON TYCE, CLIFFORD BRELAND, DALE MERRILL, FRANK CHAVEZ, and DONALD BYRD.
After his tenure in Seattle, he returned to LOS ANGELES, where he performed in numerous commercial dance projects and toured with pop artists and rappers, all while continuing to stay deeply connected to modern and ballet disciplines.
He later received a FULL SCHOLARSHIP to the UCLA World Arts and Cultures (WAC) program, where he earned his MFA. Following his graduate studies, Jenkins went on to teach at SANTA MONICA COLLEGE, UCLA, CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY, IDA HOLLYWOOD, and many more institutions—SHARING HIS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WITH THE NEXT GENERATION OF DANCERS.
On SEPTEMBER 23, 2025, Jenkins survived a life-threatening incident in which he was SHOT FOUR TIMES—once in each leg, the stomach, and the neck. MIRACULOUSLY, he recovered without major long-term damage. This experience became a profound turning point, reinforcing his purpose and drive.