Who We Are UpRise! Productions: The Root of Rebellious Creativity, was founded in 2005 as a collaboration between several established arts groups in Texas including Xenogia Spoken Word Collective, Capoiera Da Rua, Ballet East Dance Theater, Cry Havoc Action Choreography, Public Offenders, and Blacklisted Individuals. This diverse band of alchemists blend artistic genres deeply rooted in a framework of social justice. UpRise! transcends the confines of difference through a multidisciplinary performing arts group that aims to affect social change through performance and empowerment education. UpRise! Productions has performed at Austin’s First Night, Pro Arts Collective’s Black Arts Movement, The National Poetry Slam, Hot September Flurries, Make It Wet Spit Fest, the Austin City MLK Celebration at the Vortex Theater, UT Queer Conference, Austin Latino Theater Alliance, and the Hip Hop Theater Explosion. UpRise! Productions’ piece “Power is Yours: Take It Or leave It” won “Best of the Fest” at Frontera Fest 2006. UpRise! Reveiws “UpRise! Productions slapped audience members in the face with Power is Yours: Take It Or Leave It”. Ballet East dancers were a mixture of grace groove and snap” - Austin Chronicle “Passionate, sometimes angry and always powerful…. Truly unbelievable and intense. It was our favorite piece of the night.” - Austinist “There ain't much Art in Austin that come close to touchin' this!” - Barry Pineo