Youth & Cultural Arts

Current Programming, Events & Services: therooteadcollective.com

Lil Roots

For ages: 8-12
Cost: $50/mo
Meeting Mondays and Wednesdays 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Youth will perform in the Rootead Virtual Showcase in January 
Access to the Rootead Virtual Library
Access to Virtual Community Drum & Dance

Register

Scholarship Application

Rootead Virtual Library

Learn African Drum & Dance, fun for the whole family! Videos and content is waiting for you! Come on in and join the fun!​

Open Now!

HOP IN

​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. ​

• Rootead in Family
• Rootead Youth Dance Company
• Staff
• Contact

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Rootead in Family

Formally known as Rootead in Youth

A program for families to explore West African culture through pre-recorded content, an activity box, and a virtual community drum and dance. This session will teach families the importance of one of the most popular African print clothing. Joining this course allows you to learn and participate in activities at your own time and pace. You'll also be given an activity box so that your family can participate in fun activities together. We will also be able to get together live at the Virtual Community Drum & Dance.

Sign-up

​​Rootead Youth Dance Company (RYDC)

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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.

When RYDC performs they carry the skills of artistic excellence, discipline, leadership and co-creation. Previous participants are now pursuing higher education, birth work, and/or dance. Stay up to date with our newsletter for upcoming information on RYDC.

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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