Young dancers between the ages of 4 and 16 will reconnect at Roots and Branches, a Saturday afternoon dance program focusing on the dances, stories, and movements of the African Caribbean Diaspora. Participants register for terms of 9-12 weeks, and study a range of dance styles and musical forms including: contemporary and traditional African, Afro Caribbean, Hip Hop, Praise, Jazz and Indo Caribbean dance.

This 8-month program will include community performances, various themed days and ends with a showcase that will feature original collaborative works between professional artists and the Roots and Branches dancers at the end of June.

Roots and Branches provides elementary aged children in the Malvern neighbourhood with dance and music workshops led by professional artist-facilitators. Classes are at Berner Trail Community Centre and on Saturday from noon to 1:30pm followed by a healthy snack program from 1:30-2:00pm. The program encourages cultural education, artistic development, pride and community building through high-quality arts programming. Cost is $5 per child per class with 1 year registration.

The lead artist for the program is seasoned dance artist and Artistic Director Tamla Matthews. Teacher trainees are emerging dance and vocal artist Kimya Hypolite, social work graduate Shanna Joseph-Campbell and former Miss Canada Petite Roushelle Greene. The program is administrated by Gail Wilson and includes veteran drummer and Caribbean cultural artist Keith Pascal, West African dance specialist Collette Murray and Hip Hop choreographer extraordinaire Sheldon Forde. The program is documented by 2013 Scarborough Walk of Fame inductee and photographer Dwayne Morgan.

Roots and Branches is funded by a yearly Toronto Arts Council Community Arts grant and delivered in Partnership with Scarborough Caribbean Youth Dance Ensemble and in-kind support from families and local organizations.