Roots to Canvas in Motion!

Join us for a FREE spring gathering uniting artists & educators of color.

The evening will feature performances and mini lessons by hip-hop dance artists Jay Jao and Porshia Derival. Guests will also enjoy Latine cuisine by La Ingrata and one complimentary drink from venue Camden Arts Yard while supplies last. Additional drinks are available for purchase. All guests must present ID and be over 21 to consume alcohol.

Camden Arts Yard is an outdoor venue and beer garden -- come prepared with anything you need to stay comfortable in the elements.

Guests are encouraged to wear clothing they feel comfortable moving and grooving in :)

Folx who are artist/educators, teaching artists, arts educators, etc., are all invited. Allies may also join the fun.

Roots to Canvas is a staff-led BIPOC affinity group of Young Audiences of New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. We aim to cultivate a supportive community that empowers artists and educators of color to explore every facet of their artistic expression while celebrating their diversity, creativity, and individuality.

Learn more about Roots to Canvas and YANJEP here: https://yanjep.org/roots-to-canvas/

ABOUT PORSHIA DERIVAL

Porshia A. Derival is a first-generation Caribbean American born in Brooklyn, NYC. After college, she was single-handedly chosen out of her class to continue her studies at the world’s only conservatory for Hip-Hop dance. As a dance leader and advocate, Porshia has spearheaded creative affiliations for the dance community with corporations, including Coca-Cola, Target, Scotch Porter, Sirius XM x Pandora, MAC Cosmetics, Thinx, HOKA, Pastry Dance Sneakers, Trader Joe’s, and more. She is a hip-hop instructor for Nimbus FIT, an adult education program by YA artist Nimbus Dance.

She sits on the committee for the Arts & Education Roundtable Black Women’s Wellness Retreat, is the co-chair for the Board of Trustees for Ladies of Hip-Hop, has taught Hip-Hop dance education in over 25+ public schools, and was an esteemed guest instructor at her Alma Mater, Syracuse University. Porshia was the co-producer, honorary host, and producer for the 2022 Bessie Awards and hosted and directed the Bayonne Arts Festival in 2023. Her choreographic credits include Jadakiss, Step It Up 2023 and 2024, DatDancinKat Entertainment, Live Wire: Dance, NYC Street Style, and Hip-Hop 2023 @ The Apollo Theater, choreographer for the Off-Broadway Play, “Inseparable: The Vignettes,” premiering at the Puerto Rican Travelling Theatre in October 2024 during the Origins Festival, and the official host for the December 2024 Holiday Giveback for The Soapbox presents.

Porshia has shared her expansive knowledge of dance and leadership in numerous publications like “Dance Perspectives” by Stephanie Smith in 2015 and “Own Your Vulnerability” by Elizabeth Barry in 2016 and has most recently been invited as a Moving Visions Editor for the prestigious publication, The DancEnthusiast. Her goal as a Haitian-Trinidadian woman is to guarantee Black women throughout the Hip-Hop dance discipline a place where they can authentically be themselves. To act, live, and love unencumbered by restraint, fear, or criticism from others.

ABOUT JAY JAO
Jay Jao aka Rukkus was born in Manila, Philippines, and moved right outside of Philadelphia in Upper Darby at the age of 4. Jay started Breakin/Bboying (breakdancing) at the age of 16. Now at the age of 40, he has been dancing for 24 years. It started off as a hobby, but then became a passion. In the midst of his bboying venture he was co-founder of Repstyles crew. Repstyles crew had an immediate impact in the Philadelphia bboy scene.

Jay has also worked with after school programs across Philadelphia with the Beacon programs, working at such places as the Houston Center in South Philadelphia. In the midst of his dancing career, he began to learn and pick up other styles of dance, such as hip-hop, pop, lock, house, wacking, krump, and other numerous styles. Jay has also appeared in shows such as NBC 10! Show. However, Jay's biggest achievement thus far, is appearing with "Phresh Select" in MTV's "Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew", where Phresh Select was one of the top 10 crews in the competition. Jay was also part of the movie “Step 3D” as a principle dancer for Team Korea, a small role that featured him in the final dance scene amongst the other crews.

He has taken a step back from his commercial roles, and education has taken place as his passion. He believes dance is an outlet that can often be therapeutic and empowering. He has worked with groups like Rennie Harris, Hip Hop Fundamentals, Philadelphia Ballet, School of Rock, and countless schools within the Tri-State.

Also check out other Arts events in Camden, Entertainment events in Camden, Dance events in Camden.