Cypher Side Arts Programming
Cypher Side will organize a range of urban dance programming/activities, including:
- A Hmong Arts Day that provides a platform for Hmong artists of various artistic disciplines to display their talents.
- A dance showcases and one community performance by individuals who are learning to dance (e.g. at a fair);
- A public, cypher-style dance battle for dancers or all ages and abilities; and
- Three master class workshops for dance instructors or skilled dancers who are looking to hone their craft.
A Hmong Arts Day will showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Hmong community through various forms of performing art. This event serves to educate the broader community about Hmong traditions, foster cultural appreciation, and provide a platform for Hmong artists of various artistic disciplines to display their talents.
Dance showcases and community performances. Provide a platform for dancers students to exhibit their abilities and talents while engaging the community and raising appreciation for the urban arts. It also motivates them to improve their skills, as it gives them something to work towards. Additionally, it fosters teamwork and community building among those who are putting on a performance together. At Cypher Side, we believe that art is for the benefit of the community. These showcases and performances are how we uplift the broader community while also highlighting dancers who are learning fostering a strong urban dance community.
A public, cypher-style dance battle brings together urban dance artists from all over to compete in a public area (e.g. a mall). This will put the Twin Cities on the map as a center for urban arts, while increasing public interest in or support for urban dance. As judges provide commentary, this will also educate the public on the aspects of urban dance that are valued by the urban dance community. These dance battles also display the social dynamics of the urban dance community-teaching participants and onlookers, for example, what it looks like to respect and honor another's skills while competing.
The master classes are an opportunity for skilled dancers or dance instructors to continue honing their craft. Urban dance is an undervalued art form, and many do not realize the years of effort that go into becoming an excellent urban dance artist, or how quickly the art form evolves. For a long time, urban art skills were largely passed on through social relations and interactions. These master classes increase access to higher skills of urban dance, while also helping individuals to stay current.
Overall, our 2024-2025 dance programming will increase the interest in, appreciation for, and value of the urban arts by engage urban dancers who are still learning the art, urban dancers who have mastered the art, and the general public. It will also enhance the presence of Hmong artists in MN.
$170,625 the second year is for a grant to Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center to partner with Cypher Side to provide dance and other arts programming.
HMONG ARTS DAY
Hmong Arts Day
- At least 8 performances with a target audience size of anywhere from 500 to 1000-though depending on the location there could be upwards of 2000.
- There will be over 50 views of any photos/videos produced from the event that are posted online (based on counts provided by the platform-YouTube, Facebook, etc.).
- Based on survey of performers, performances will report increased appreciation for other art forms outside of their own.
- Based on a survey of audience members, they will report increased knowledge of the artistic practices and heritage of the Hmong people.
DANCE SHOWCASE & COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE
Our desired outcomes (and associated evaluation tools) for the dance showcase or community performance are as follows:
- There will be at least 30 dance routines/performances in the showcase, with an average of 8 performers (i.e. dance students); at least one dance routine for the community performance with at least eight performers. (To track this information, we will rely on information provided by performers or their coaches/instructors when registering for the event.)
- There will be an average audience of 300 attendees per event across all three events (for a total of 900 attendees)--based on tickets sold, counts at the door, or 'point-in-time'? estimates during the event (using photos/videos to get an estimate).
- There will be over 100 views of any photos/videos produced from the event that are posted online (based on counts provided by the platform YouTube, Facebook, etc.).
- Based on a survey of the performers, a majority of performers (e.g. student dancers) will report that the showcases/performances motivated them to increase their urban dance abilities/skills. (These surveys will be administered to the performers/student dancers by their instructors/coaches.)
- Based on a survey of the audience members, a majority of respondents will report that the event helped raise the value of, appreciation for, or interest in the urban arts; in order to deliver this survey, will create a Facebook event for the showcases/performances and post a survey to the event page. We will also consider other methods of delivering this survey during the event (e.g. putting the survey link on program materials, offering an option to text in a response, etc).
CYPHER DANCE BATTLE
Our desired outputs (and associated evaluation tools) for the cypher-style dance battle are as follows:
- About 175 individuals competing (some of whom are competing as a group) competing for 3 different titles/awards in about 50 battles (bracket-style).
- We will have participants from at least two different states and across a wide range of ages (e.g. under 24, over 24, and over 30). (To track this information, we will rely on registration information that battle participants.)
- There will be an average of 100 attendees/onlookers at the event during a few 'point-in-time'? estimates during the event; we will use photos/videos to get an estimate.
- There will be over 100 views of any photos/videos produced from the event that are posted online (based on counts provided by the platform YouTube, Facebook, etc.)
Our desired outcomes (and associated evaluation tools) for the cypher-style dance battle are as follows:
- Based on a survey of battle participants, a majority of participants will report that the dance
battles revitalized/energized their love for or connection to the urban arts. (We will send surveys out to battle participants based on contact information provided during registration.)
- Based on a survey of battle participants, a majority of participants will report that they would attend another urban dance event in the Twin Cities in the future. (We will send surveys out to battle participants based on contact information provided during registration.)
- Based on a survey of the audience members, a majority of respondents will report that the event helped raise the value of, appreciation for, or interest in the urban arts; in order to deliver this survey, will create a Facebook event for the showcases/performances and post a survey to the event page. We will also consider other methods of delivering this survey during the event (e.g. putting the survey link on program materials, offering an option to text in a response, etc).
MASTER CLASSES
Our desired outputs (and associated evaluation tools) for the master classes are as follows:
- We will have at least three different master class instructors-who will be invited to stay in the Twin Cities for a week in order to teach classes (6 classes per instructor)
- We will have at least 10 attendees per master class. (To track this information, we will rely on registration information.)
Our desired outcomes (and associated evaluation tools) for the master classes are as follows:
- Based on a survey of attendees, a majority of respondents will report that the master class helped them to hone their craft or improve their skill. (We will send surveys out to attendees based on contact information provided during registration.)
- Based on a survey of attendees, a majority of respondents will report that the master class made learning/improving urban dance skills an accessible experience. (We will send surveys out to attendees based on contact information provided during registration.)