- [Kabreshiona] Richmond has given me pride and purpose, but in relation to San Francisco and Oakland, we don't get a lot of shine for our art.

♪ Let's go ♪ - [Deontae] Richmond reflects my dance style.

When people look at it, they don't expect much.

And in the same sense, people will look at someone who looks like me and not expect much of that person, but once I start to dance, you start to see the beauty within.

And that's what this city is all about.

- [Kabreshiona] Richmond has a really rich history rooted deeply in blues.

People who came from the South, in the 1940's they came with so much spunk to make these ships for the war.

And they opened up juke joints.

Some greats came and played in little North Richmond.

That just fuels my fire to continue to go hard for our city.

I like to create stories with my body.

We are changing the narrative of what it looks like to be black.

We might be krumping, hip-hop, or African and modern, ballet.

♪ Let's go ♪ - [Aziza] R.O.O.T.S., we have this strong bond.

We feed off each other.

Not one person choreographs.

Each person has a say.

We like to see everyone shine and grow at the same time.

Us as dancers, we're trying to give back to our community and be like 'just be yourself'.

- [Deontae] When I joined R.O.O.T.S.

The Movement, I was going through a depression.

I went through a traumatic experience.

I experienced a shooting in my city.

And after that, I kinda just lost touch with the world.

You know, I was afraid to dance, to be vulnerable.

But I was running away from something that was making me a better person.

When I saw R.O.O.T.S The Movement, I was like these are people I'm comfortable with.

These are people that I know I can feel safe with and be loved.

It gave me like a power.

And now I'm becoming a dance teacher through the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, I have the opportunity to teach how you can use art as a way to transform negative influences or emotions into a positive and beautiful thing.

- [Kabreshiona] What I love about Richmond is that we're resilient.

We have our art to heal us.

We have our art to sooth our pain.

I feel like now is time for the real Richmond renaissance.