Support Black Dance: Upsurge Dance Festival's NYC Premiere

Hello! My name is Joniece “JoJo” Boykins, and I am the co-founder and director of Upsurge Dance Festival (USDF). USDF is a passion project rooted in the desire to uplift and support Black choreographers. Through performance showcases, mentorship, and artistic exposure, we aim to create opportunities for emerging Black artists who are often overlooked in mainstream dance spaces.

Now, we’re entering our 5th annual festival — and for the first time, we’re hosting it in-person in New York City! Save the date: the performance will take place on September 13th at 7 PM at Triskelion Arts. We’ll feature the incredible works of aspiring choreographers who have been hand-selected for their talent and potential. These artists have worked hard to get to this point, and they need your help to keep growing.

While this festival has been a labor of love, we cannot continue to fund it on our own. The financial burden of securing the theater, paying our mentors, and providing studio space has fallen solely on my shoulders, but now, we need your support to make this vision sustainable.

How Your Donation Will Help:

Your support will help keep this festival alive and allow us to continue mentoring and showcasing the next generation of Black dance artists. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, goes directly to ensuring the success and sustainability of Upsurge Dance Festival.

We are also asking for your help in spreading the word. If you can’t donate, please share our campaign with your friends, family, and community to help us expand our network of support.

Together, we can create a legacy of representation, empowerment, and opportunity for Black dancers.