Elevate. Stimulate. Set the rhythm.

About

DANCE FIRST | THINK LATER

Since January 2015, Uplift’s goal has been to elevate, stimulate morally and physically through Afro-Urban rhythms.

It is through the various influences of our dancers and different ethnic origins that we create a different energy where African dance meets popular dance / hip hop / tribal together to create a unique AFRO-URBAN choreography.

Uplift’s strength comes from its dancers / choreographers who are passionate about what they do. Mostly self-taught dancers who each share their own experiences on stage, ranging from clips to performances for international and local artists.

Our Services
At Uplift we strive to convey our passion for dance
A team of passionate artists doing it for the culture

Melo – AFRO URBAN   [Afrobeat, Afrohouse, Ndombolo & Coupé Décalé]

Melo is above all a dance enthusiast who draws his inspiration from his origins, but also from his multiple journeys. Of Congolese origin, he was born in Ivory Coast, immigrated to the United States at the age of 13, and has been living in Canada for just over 10 years. It is through this cultural mix and these diverse influences that he was able to create a unique style with which he now identifies. After several years as a choreographer and freelance dancer, he decided to create Uplift 514 in January 2015 in order to share his passion and transmit the joy that dance brings him.

Melo
AFRO URBAN ( Afrobeat, Afrohouse, Ndombolo & Coupé Décalé )

Rama – AFROBEAT & AFROHOUSE

Rama began her dance training at the age of 14 with modern Jazz and Hip-Hop. It’s as she arrives in Montreal in 2012 that she discovers Dance-hall and  Afrobeat through various troops who would orient her towards what would become her own dance style. Thanks to multiple experiences and opportunities, Rama has been able to develop her talent and forge an identity in a dance style that sticks to his skin: AFROBEAT. Having grown up in Africa (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Tunisia), this is a happy revelation for her who draws her inspiration from her roots. It was at the end of 2015 that she joined Uplift 514, in order to perfect her technique in the different branches of Afro that she wanted to appropriate and choreograph. Since 2017, she has been teaching with Uplift 514 in order to share with everyone her passion in addition to her culture and above all because she wishes to inspire everyone by transmitting her joy and good humor.

RAMA
Afrobeat & Afrohouse

Our dance styles

AFROBEATS

AFROBEATS

Afrobeats is a music genre that blends West African musical styles with jazz, soul, funk and in more contemporary tracks, electronic music. These days you could say that Afrobeat is a mix of African music with Western-pop and the dance moves that are created to go along with it make it so much fun.

AFROHOUSE

AFROHOUSE

Angolan afro house, an offspring of Kuduro dance come from kwaito steps (from south Africa), african tribal dance mouvements and mostly “ndombolo” mouvements from our brothers from Congo RDC. Because of the cultural influences of the former “Kingdom of Kongo”. That fusion creates a unique sound and is reflected in the musical style and dance steps.

NDOMBOLO

NDOMBOLO

Ndombolo is a Congolese music genre and dance style that started with a step and created a whole new genre. It is derived from kwassa kwassa and soukous,  currently dominating dance floors in central Africa. Get your hips ready to rock & roll, literally!

COUPÉ DÉCALÉ

COUPÉ DÉCALÉ

The Coupé Décalé sound and movement started in Paris nightclubs in the early 2000s where it was brought by Ivorian DJs. Ivorian music has really for the first time taken over dance floors all over Africa with at exactly the same time that the country was going through political and military crisis. In Nouchi (Ivorian slang), Coupé Décalé means “to cheat” and “run away” or cut and run. The fun, bass-heavy sound and dances are influenced by the Zouglou (local Ivorian genre), Ndombolo steps that embraced the joie de vivre that typifies Abidjan, a city known for its legendary partying.