Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance

Jazz in movement and music can be beautiful, puzzling, avant garde, authentic and theatrical. It is forever evolving.

Uprooted, free of any artificial narrative, is a cinematic exploration of this art form, paying homage to its lineage, celebrating its many re-interpretations and through a fast- moving kaleidoscope of movement and music will, inspire the dancer of tomorrow to keep this art form alive.

Occupying a contested artscape, Jazz Dance, with its historic and artistic roots in enslaved peoples is also a metaphor for struggle, resistance and acceptance.

Set against observational and experiential expressions from diverse practitioners against a linear examination of American history, we want to create a film that allows everyone to experience testimonials and exemplars from people that love jazz dance and believe it matters as much as life.