Taking Traditional Dance to the Streets
Ethnic dance and music traditions are like hidden gems. They are most often seen at community celebrations or family celebrations for specific cultures. Nations of San Diego International Dance Festival, an annual cultural event in San Diego (now in year 19), brings over 200 ethnic dancers and musicians together on a shared stage and allows audiences to see these "gems." Still, so many folks have no idea that the teachers, doctors, scientists, business owners, parents and neighbors they know are also dedicated to maintaining and sharing their cultural heritage via dance. We are adding these Flash Mobs to the mix to take the message out of the theater and into the community. Nations often results in new collaborations and gigs for our ethnic dance community. These Flash Mobs will extend those connections.
Why Flash Mobs?
Flash Mobs are like Pop Up restaurants. They appear, serve up something delectable, disappear and leave the crowds wanting more. We want our community to want more traditional dance and these Flash Mobs will give them the first addictive taste. We have plans to appear at a venue in Balboa Park, a downtown location to be announced, a high-profile local tech company and on the campus of at least one high school.
Imagine a crowded museum, bay front area or plaza. The music begins, one dancer starts to dance, two more join in, then five more, than a group of thirty dancers perform in unison. Some dancers wear costumes of their country (Spain or China or Hawaii, India, etc.), others are in colorful clothing. For two minutes, many countries join together in one dance -- then disperse. It will be a tantalizing taste of the rich ethnic dance community in the San Diego region.
Why Bollywood-Style?
Bollywood dance often blends classical Indian dance forms with Western dance traditions. These Flash Mobs will be a blending of styles and cultures -- an international stew of vibrant performance. Bollywood-style dance is both exotic and easy to connect to...and fun.
What You Are Funding
All performances take planning and promotion. These Flash Mobs are no different. We value the time of artists that will make these events happen. Your donations fund:
Choreographer, Jaami Waali - http://www.kruciaalelement.com/
Videographer
DVD Copies
Marketing/PR
Any funds OVER our goal will be used to help fund educational outreach in local schools. We take dance artists into schools so students can learn more about traditional dance and music and the cultures in our community.
Take a Peek
Here are a few photos of just some of the groups that preserve and elevate traditional dance forms in our community.
Thank You and Learn More
Thank you for helping us reach our goal. We will keep you updated about the wFlash Mobs and you can join the fun if you are in the neighborhood. To learn more about the ethnic dance traditions that abound in our community and Nations of San Diego International Dance Festival, go to http://www.nationsdancefestival.com
Risks and challenges
Embrace Flexibility
Performances always come with challenges. Will the dancers all find parking and arrive in time? Will the weather hold? Will the music play?
We plan to practice, practice practice and do our best to have back up plans for every issue (like a back up music system). The beauty of a Flash Mob is that it is flexible and movable. We feel we can be ready with back-up plans for any circumstances.
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Funding period
- (29 days)