Zane Booker, a native Philadelphian, began his dance training at the age of seven with the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts under the direction of Joan Myers Brown. By age fourteen he was selected by Ms. Brown to perform with the Philadelphia Dance Company. Other educational institutions he attended include, Howard University, School of American Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts and The American Ballet Theater School. As a performer, Zane performed nationally and internationally with Fosse /International Tour, The White Oak Dance Project, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Rhythmek, New York Chamber Ballet, New National Theater of Tokyo, the Opera of Monte Carlo, Les Ballets De Monte Carlo, Netherlands Dance Theater, North Carolina Dance Theater and The Philadelphia Dance Company. In 2006, Zane, Brandi and Elaine Booker co-founded the Smoke, Lilies and Jade Arts Initiative (SLJ), a socially conscious, multimedia, dance theater company, promoting HIV/ AIDS awareness. As Artistic Director he created Ebony, Beige and Bronze: The Philadelphia Show to inspire social consciousness about HIV/AIDS and honor dancers from Philadelphia that had passed from the disease. In addition, SLJ produced “Dance and Discussion” Black Men’s Health, a yearly community engagement event, in collaboration with over ten non-profit organizations in Philadelphia. Former panelists include, George Faison, Dr. John Rich, Dr. Theodore J. Corbin, Dr.Lisa Bowleg, Kevin “Iega” Jeff, Obediah Wright, Charmaine Warren, Charles Anderson, and Terrence L. Gore, to name a few. Works created for SLJ include: Looking for Joe Beam, a meditation on the works of Joe Beam, Essex Hemphill, and Marlon Riggs; Portraits, about American icons Josephine Baker, James Baldwin, Byron Hurt, E. Lynn Harris, and Gloria Steinem; If Juniper Street Could Talk, a work inspired by the tragic death of Nizah Morris. Dance Magazine chose SLJ as one of 25 companies to watch in 2007. Zane has received awards from Philadelphia Black Gay Pride, Men of All Colors United and in 2011 was honored by Equality Forum with an award and Tribute Concert. SLJ produced its last works in 2011 in residency at Swarthmore College's WIndow on the Work series. In 2016 Mr. Booker created ZBE productions (ZBE) through which he provides administrative and creative services. Recently, ZBE has worked as an artistic advisor/grant consultant with clients including John Dowell, Terrence Gore, Philadadanco, Meredith Rainey and Self Inc. SELF is a 501 (c) (3) that provides emergency and permanent supportive housing, housing-focused case management, mentoring, and other vital services and resources for Philadelphia's most resilient communities. In 2019 Intentionally Theatrical Conversations (ITC) was created as an artistic community engagement project for SELF. The workshop guided participants through a creative process that produced spoken-word performance inspired by their lives. Most recently, Zane was part of "The Elephant is in the Room" with Rennie Harris and Raphael Xavier. The film was created by Roni Koresh responded to the death of Mr. George Floyd. In the COVID era, Booker's online and radio talk show appearences include: Rhetorically Speaking/Phillip Roundtree, The Lounge on WURD radio/Phillip Roundtree, Coversations with Roni Koresh and My MOrtality Matters/ John Taylor.