Who We Are

RootsUprising is a Boston based intergenerational, contemporary dance company. Led by choreographer Nailah Randall-Bellinger, the work is rooted in African American historic and literary texts as source material. Bringing to light unrecognized stories and exploring the lived experiences of African Americans, RootsUprising is about giving visibility to the Black body in a time of erasure.

Mission
Our mission is to celebrate the enduring resilience of Black Americans through the medium of dance, offering a choreographic exploration of their lived experiences and historical contributions. RootsUprising's work illuminates the specific roots African Americans have laid in communities like Boston, demonstrating how these localized histories are deeply woven into the broader American narrative. We invite all audiences to connect with these stories, reflecting on their own relationship to place and fostering a common ground of shared humanity. Our approach considers "dance as text and text as dance," utilizing a "choreographic close reading" to deepen the essential conversation on achieving equitable social justice.