Youth & Cultural Arts

Current & Upcoming Programming, Events & Services: therooteadcollective.com

Summer Sangha Yoga

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Save the dates, Rootead fam!

​A flow yoga and guided meditation Summer Sangha series for experienced practitioners (intermediate to advanced) will be held from 8 am - 9 am Thursday mornings from June 10 - August 26 at Rootead in downtown Kalamazoo (505 E Kalamazoo Ave. Suite 2). Open-to-all, drop-in, pay-what-you-can. Class size is limited to 10 folx per class.

​"Inspired by my teacher Karina Ayn Mirsky, and in deep need to be in sangha (community) while moving my body in devotion. Join me Thursday mornings this summer."
~Kama
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Call (269) 720-9200 for more information. ​

Drum & Dance Summer Camp

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• Drum Camp Monday - Thursday:
  • 8 - 12 year olds at 11am -11:30am
  • 13 - 18 year olds at 11:30pm - 12:30pm

• Dance Camp Monday - Thursday:
  • 8 - 12 year olds at 1pm - 1:45pm
  • 13 - 18 year olds at 2pm - 3pm
• Friday Show & Tell BBQ: 11am - 12:30pm

Rootead is thrilled to be offering a new, week-long summer day camp series at which youth ages 8 - 18-years-old will learn a drum or dance rhythm along with some history and culture surrounding the dance/drum rhythm they’re learning during the Monday - Thursday sessions, with separate sessions for two age groups and the two disciplines (drum and dance). This camp is an exciting, educational, and empowering experience and concludes with a Show and Tell Day on Friday where students from both the dance and drum groups and both age groups can share what they’ve learned with fellow students and their families at a fun outdoor BBQ event.​​

Register

​Youth & Cultural Arts

Creating body-awareness through healing arts

Our youth programming provides experiences for pre-adulthood that contribute to healing the injustices in our community from a traditional and holistic lens. Body and self-awareness are necessary for true change and radical cultural transformation. These programs were created for youth to engage and interact with peers while also familiarizing and healing their bodies. We focus on African roots and culture through drum and dance, mindfulness, social-emotional learning, indigenous history and community support. 

We also facilitate programming for families, and intergenerational spaces. Using healing arts, we create cross cultural, emotional and intersectional experiences. ​

• Youth Programs
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​​Rootead Youth Dance Company (RYDC)

In 2016, Rootead embarked on a journey to develop a youth dance company that would reflect the unique and rich cultural traditions within the spectrum of the black experience and beyond. The dance company is composed of members from eighth grade through senior level of high school from very diverse backgrounds. 

RYDC members learn movement of the West African diaspora, Hip-Hop, and Modern/Contemporary dance. Members develop essential skills such as; empathy, leadership, consistent work ethic, social/emotional development, critical thinking, listening, teamwork, effective communication, problem-solving, and mental flexibility.

While using dance as a vehicle of healing and self-confidence, RYDC prioritizes artistic excellence, discipline, leadership and co-creation. Previous participants are now pursuing higher education, birth work, and/or dance.

Lil Roots

Lil Roots has a very similar structure to RYDC.
They meet twice a week for an hour and learn African dances, rhythms, songs, and history. The goal of this program is to hold space for the 8-12 year old youth who are consistent and dedicated to Rootead’s teachings. ​​

Rootead in Family

This program was held during December 2020 and was a space for Rootead families to connect, bond, and socialize with one another virtually. Also, to get the family to engage with one another in fun activities together in a safe environment since quarantine is in place. It included:

• Pre-recorded content: storytelling, dance, yoga/meditation
• Virtual Community Drum & Dance
• Activity Box

Info coming soon!

Jay Young
Prophet of Programming 
arts@rootead.org
​RC PROFILE

Jay Young is a professional dancer trained in Commercial Jazz, Hip Hop, Heels, Afro Pop, and Traditional West African Dance. She is also a Beauty Consultant and Model. She trained in dance at New York’s Broadway Dance Center, Wellspring Dance Academy, and Rootead Enrichment Center. After earning her B.A. in Business at Kalamazoo College, Jay Young stayed in Kalamazoo where she now resides in. She is the Prophet of Program at Rootead, a well-known healing arts nonprofit. She designs low costing art programs for BIPOC youth and families in Kalamazoo. She is an Academy Instructor at Wellspring Dance Academy where she teaches Afro Fusion, a mix of Afro Pop and Traditional West African Dance. She is a well versed local freelance dancer, making appearances at iDance Fearless Productions and Heels Finesse. She is always learning new styles and developing her technique in dance. She aims to continue building relationships with other choreographers, instructors, dancers, and studios that are energetic and lively. ​​

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​Youth & Cultural Arts

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