About this project
About "The NJ Dance Network"
"The Dance Network" is a facility that will be located in the heart of Downtown Newark, New Jersey. I, Rah Digga, have obtained a lease for one of SEVERAL abandoned spaces in Newark and with the help of countless community members; we will have the place completely renovated in 30 days. This facility will act as a meeting ground for various talented children/people in the city of Newark, as well as the surrounding areas. The focus will be dance in all of its variations. It is a chance for children that do not attend the one (1) performing arts school (Arts High) in the city to receive some formal training. The goal is to develop full-scale dance recitals, theatrical productions to be performed in our city, and basically act as a stomping ground to deter talented kids from getting into trouble with their idle time.
About “Hood House: So Jersey”
I am releasing a 3-4 song EP entitled Hood House: So Jersey tentatively scheduled for December 2013. I will be releasing a series of videos for the EP to be packaged as a dance DVD, which casts participants of the NJ Dance Network. It is my hope that employing people directly from the community would be a great way to boost morale and offer them a chance to experience pop culture in a positive environment while utilizing his or her natural born talents.
About “Breaking in the Brix”
Breakin’ In the Brix is the current working title for the first stage production I am producing. It is a musical remake of the 1984 classic movie “Breakin” to be performed at any one of Newark’s arts and entertainment venues such as the New Jersey Performing Arts Center or Newark Symphony Hall’s Terrace Ballroom. We are prepping to have it ready by Spring 2014. We will launch another kickstarter for this project sometime around January. I'm currently working on obtaining 501(c)(3) status so that all contributions are tax deductible. Until such time, I've been spending my own personal funds to make such a dream of mine come to fruition!
Where does the money go?
Funds from this campaign will be used towards producing the videos for the EP and making the preliminary preparations for our first stage production. There are hefty production costs as well as salaries for (but not specific to):
• Scriptwriters • Choreographers • Videographers • Production hands • Producers • DJs • Set designers • Dancers • Recording Artists • Music supervisors • Instrument players • Costume designers • Vocal coaches • Youth advocates • Hair/Makeup artists • Team leaders • Life coaches
How Kickstarter works:
You can pledge any amount and choose a reward. At the end of our Kickstarter campaign, if the combined total of all pledges for our project meets our $20,000 goal, then the credit cards of those who have pledged are charged and we receive the funds to pay our talent. If we don't meet our goal, then the money is not withdrawn from your account and no rewards are provided. If we exceed our $20,000 goal then the extra funds are used to make THE DANCE NETWORK the experience of a lifetime. Aside from a 5% Kickstarter fee and a 3.5% Amazon credit card processing fee, ALL funds raised are used directly for Dance Network.
Can you increase your pledge once it’s been made?
YES! Once you donate to our campaign, you may want to change your incentive reward to a different one, or increase your pledge amount. To do so, go to Kickstarter and sign in. If you go to our campaign page, the green “Back This Project” button has been replaced with a blue “Manage Your Donation” button. Click it and you can enter a new amount, or choose a new incentive.
What happens if all the money isn’t raised in time?
Unfortunately, NOTHING. If our entire $20,000 goal isn’t met before the deadline, no money changes hands and our workshop and entire project will be in big trouble. We know you won't let this happen!
Can we exceed the goal?
Kickstarter will allow as much money as is given before the deadline. Even though $20,000 is already a lot of money, it is still a bare minimum for what I am trying to do since the Dance Network has a projected overhead that exceeds 5k per month. Your generous donations would mean less having to worry about trying to cut through political red tape or getting lost in a system that would rather spend money on building a new prison.
How do you contact us?
For more about NJ Dance Network:
Tumblr: http://njdancenetwork.tumblr.com
Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @NJDanceNetwork
Contact: 973 536 0815
Email: njdancenetwork@gmail.com
Risks and challenges
Every project has its risks. In our inner city communities, we are constantly losing young adults to street violence and domestic violence with minimal resources to help them. I have a personal stake in this so I'm willing to contribute any personal funds necessary to see this through ensuring all backers' rewards are delivered in a timely manner.
Underneath all the grit and crime that you hear so much about on the news lays a world of endlessly talented future leaders. I, as a Hip-Hop veteran, feel behooved to show them how to make a difference for themselves and those around them.
That's what you call an artist giving back!
Questions about this project? Check out the FAQ
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Funding period
- (30 days)