Arts Activities Support

15 artists performed in Sufiana - The Sufi Ecstasy and in one weekend 733 people attended the shows. Audience surveys showed that 50% of respondents experienced this art form for the first time. Sufiana - the Sufi Ecstasy was a new work collaboratively created by Local artists Rita Mustaphi (vision, direction and choreography) and Dr. Pooja Goswami Pavan (composer and vocalist). The artistic team also includes Dr. A. Pavan (Tabla drum), Greg Herriges (Guitarist), Pankaj Mishra (Sarangi), Abhinav Sharma (Percussionist), Vinod Krishnan (Keyboards), and Dipankar Mukherjee (narration). It featured the Katha Dance Theatre company dancers who loved this opportunity since they were challenged and artistic growth happened and they did rise to the expectations. This production was presented by The Cowles Center for the Performing Arts, opening their 2016-2017 season. In 3 shows we provided an ASL interpreter, a post show Q and A session with the artists. Additionally, for Thursday night dress rehearsal showing was open to select needy patrons, free of charge. This collaboration exposed the greater public to the breath of Indian arts that are represented locally. The subject matter of Sufiana - The Sufi Ecstasy showcased original Sufi music and choreography, introducing our viewing audience to the greater Indian cultural subsection of Sufism. There were a total of 723 tickets sold for all shows. We offered tickets at three prices from $21-$26, with reduced price tickets for seniors and students. We created an extensive program note for our audience members and conducted Sunday matinee show with a post-show discussions free of charge. What did not work: It took more time to develop, because the music and dance collaborations needed to accommodate a large cast and took time to assemble collectively for rehearsals. What we did well: We firmly believed that undertaking Sufiana - The Sufi Ecstasy was a significant step towards fulfilling Katha Dance Theatre’s mission, which is to preserve the Kathak dance culture of Northern India through the development of accessible, innovative, and collaborative works. All of the individual partners that participated in the project came together with their collective artistic ability, audiences, and resources which resulted with a strengthened presence in our community that will better position us all to sustain our roles as cultural ambassadors throughout the 7-county metro area. Additionally, each artist that participated was able to reach and connect a broader community and wider audience otherwise not accessible acting on their own due to limited budgets, staff sizes, and resources. Our audiences were challenged to evaluate both their own and another culture’s concepts of beauty, gender, and love, providing them an opportunity to experience the transcendence associated with experiencing a piece of art. The post-show discussion helped to provide a rare opportunity for diverse voices to articulate the role cultural arts play in understanding and strengthening community diversity. In short, we feel that Sufiana - the Sufi Ecstasy, was a great success. Yes, we reached our intended community. Katha Dance Theatre and its presenter, The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts, were responsible in marketing the show to targeted audiences. Katha Dance Theatre mailed postcard invitations and displayed event posters at locations throughout Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties that included area businesses, libraries, and schools. Katha Dance Theatre conducted widespread media and social campaigns that were directed to local newspapers, magazine, and radio stations and to the organizations’ of Facebook, Twitter, and Constant Contact mailing lists. Additionally, Katha Dance Theatre used advertising dollars to put ads online and on many events calendars, including the Dance Newsletter, Localfiles.com, and Star Tribune, which are popular online destinations for Minnesota’s culture and dance community as well as our targeted population. We also had 10 radio commercial segments on MPR that we used to target a wider audience. Katha Dance Theatre's Artistic Director, Executive Director, and Board of Directors used information provided through post-show and class discussions, critical reviews and audience surveys to evaluate and measure the effectiveness of its programs and performances. With the aforementioned programs and goals, Katha Dance Theatre met the goals of making it accessible. 1. Katha Dance Theatre creates multidisciplinary performances and educational works. These activities united people from various geographies, races, and cultures while expanding their understanding of cultures. 2. It enhanced Katha Dance Theatre's cultural collaboration effort by creating a new work with the Indian Music Society of Minnesota, and Pangea World Theatre. 3. It brought in diverse constituent composition, including youth, seniors and minorities. 4. Katha Dance Theatre received positive responses from box office statistics, audience members, and written surveys. Katha Dance Theatre performances focused on the creation of community-inclusive art making that emerges from a long-standing commitment of the organization to work with varied and diverse populations and educate them on Kathak art and culture of India, as well as Hindustani music traditions, and Sufi music, dance and poetry. The audience was be challenged to understand and experience the transcendence associated with experiencing a piece of art, and the post-show discussions provided a rare opportunity for diverse voices to articulate the role cultural arts play in understanding and strengthening community diversity.