Performing Artist at #HellaBlack Vol. 7: Shift

Alanna Logan, known on stage as ILLana-Popz, is a Cambridge native whose artistry bridges the thrill of high-profile dance performance with the depth of community impact. With over two decades of training in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and street styles, she has shaped a versatility that carries her from neighborhood studios to world stages. Her career has seen her tour with The Weeknd on his European After Hours Til Dawn Tour (2023), perform in Debbie Allen’s Brothers of the Knight at just 14, appear as a tap dancer in the motion picture Breakin’ Brooklyn, and dance alongside Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, and Lil Nas X at the MTV VMAs.

As ILLana-Popz, she is a force within freestyle and battle culture. Classical and professional mentorship under Ebony Williams, paired with years of cultural guidance from OG Megatron, honed her precision as a commercial dancer while unlocking a creative voice rooted in resilience. Her movement fuses exacting technique with unfiltered expression, inviting audiences into performances that are as emotionally charged as they are technically masterful.

Beyond the spotlight, Alanna is dedicated to creating the mentorship she once sought—spaces where young girls, especially girls of color, can grow as artists and confident individuals. Her work also bridges Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing and Hearing communities, weaving ASL-inspired visual storytelling into the style of Popping to ensure accessibility and inclusion remain central.

For Alanna, dance is more than performance—it’s language, connection, and empowerment, carried forward with a mission to inspire every community she touches.

Interested in learning more about her journey? Follow her on Instagram @lannalalo / @illana.popz or tune into her website www.ILLanaPopz.com