Uprooted: American History Through Jazz Dance

Learn about Jazz Dance history and what it means in America today.
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The history of Jazz Dance is the history of America. That history is not well documented however, especially when it comes to the leading role played by African Americans. In Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance, filmmakers Khadifa Wong and Zak Nemorin trace Jazz Dance history back to its roots in Africa, and follow its evolution up to the present. Along the way, Khadifa and Zack address difficult subjects such as appropriation, racism and sexism within this uniquely American art form, and in the process shine a light on this chapter in America's history. But in the end, their film is a celebration of this most human of art forms, where as they say, what all people have in common is rhythm and a basic human need to get down.
"Whether it was jazz, whether it's hip hop, there are cultures that step out of oppression, and out of wanting to speak out, and jazz dance was just an iteration of that." - Khadifa Wong
Time Stamps:
00:00 - Guests introduction and film trailer.
1:55 - The film we are talking about today.
3:15 - When and where the film premiered.
4:27 - How Khadifa and Zack are spending their time in London.
6:00 - What is jazz dance?
8:35 - What is social dance?
13:28 - The roots of jazz dance.
15:20 - How this art form got appropriated by Hollywood.
17:29 - The question of ownership of jazz dance and its branches.
23:08 - "Uprooted" as an artistic exploration of American history.
25:24 - How Zack got started with the idea for this project.
31:32 - Tensions between schools of dance; the connection between dance and protest.
33:40 - Watching the alternative trailer for the film.
36:24 - Where the future of jazz dance is going.
39:40 - The timeliness of the film in the context of the BLM movement.
44:13 - How Khadifa and Zack got into jazz dance.
50:30 - The perspective that Zack and Khadifa gave to the film as British filmmakers.
53:00 - Famous artists that are featured in the film.
55:20 - Who the director of photography is.
58:50 - The next projects Zack and Khadifa are working on.
Resources:
Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance (2020): uprootedfilm.com/
Facebook: / uprootedjazzdoc
Twitter: / uprooted_film
Instagram: / uprooted.film
I Am Not Your Negro: Racism In The US: www.alamopictures.co.uk/podca...
This Is Distorted: www.thisisdistorted.com/
Connect With Khadifa Wong:
Website: www.khadifawong.com/
Instagram: / khadifawong
Facebook: / khadifa.wong
Connect with Zak Nemorin:
Facebook: / znemorin
Twitter: / zaknemorin
Instagram: / zaknemorin
Connect with Matthew Sherwood:
Facebook: / matthew.sherwood.14
LinkedIn: / matthewsherwood
Twitter: / sherwood1967
#jazzdance #socialdance #jazz
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Factual America explores the themes that make America unique through the lens of documentaries about America. Each episode a guest chooses a film and then discusses it with host, Matthew Sherwood. Guests include leading documentary filmmakers as well as experts on the American experience.
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[@nailahbellinger3302]

Amazing presentation. Can't wait to see the film in its full-length. Bravo!!!

[@FactualAmericaPodcast]

Thank you for saying so!

[@thegarrisonexperience423]

I just saw this as a group presentation of the film at the Booth Playhouse in Charlotte, NC 07/23/21. Just Amazing!! As a Jazz teacher it re-enforced what I have been teaching. Great Job! #jazzdanceteachersrock

[@oboemariecharmaine]

Where can I watch this? I don't see it as available -USA.

[@FactualAmericaPodcast]

We don't think it's been released yet and has thus far been limited to the festival circle. Suggest checking out their official website for updates: uprootedfilm.com/

[@jenibbott5678]

Where can I find this in Canada?

[@FactualAmericaPodcast]

Not sure if it has been released yet. Check out the official website: uprootedfilm.com/.

[@barry5515]

Where can I find this - South Korea

[@FactualAmericaPodcast]

Check out the official website: uprootedfilm.com/.

[@tiwantiwaabibiman2603]

Of course he didn't know the origins of the Lindy Hop and other dances that originated in Afrika or created/evolved by enslaved and Diaspora Afrikans. WP never know what/how Europeans ignore, coopt and dismiss the global, ancient and historical contributions of Black people.

[@FactualAmericaPodcast]

Thank you for the additional information and comment!