What is the Mapping Project? What is it about and what does it do?
The Minnesota Dance Mapping Project is an effort to compile basic factual data about the entire population of dance-making and dance-teaching entities in Minnnesota. We will assemble one database listing dance companies, soloists, collectives, collaborations and any other structure that is making dances for a viewing public. We will compile a second database listing dance schools, studios, educational institutions offering dance and any other structure that is teaching dance in Minnesota. The intention is to make a cle ar picture of what dance-teaching and dance-making looks like in Minnesota. In addition to the two databases there will also be a published hard-copy summary report.
Who is this for? Who gets the results?
First, this is for the dance community of Minnesota. It is ammunition. It is a resource. Second, it is for everyone else in the state and the nation. We will not hold this data, or file it away, or limit access to it. Our plan is to make it as open and available as possible to everyone, free of charge. We will distribute both the databases and the published summary report to each and every entry in the two databases when the project is completed.
Won’t this just be a mailing list that quickly goes out of date?
No, it’s much more than that. We will capture information about genres, founding dates, numbers and genders of people involved, budget sizes, audience sizes, student populations, range of performance and various other details in addition to contact information.
Is this the same as the Minnesota Shubert Project?
No it isn’t. The Shubert Project is about the MN Shubert Performing Arts and Education Center. This project is about the entire Minnesota dance landscape. We support and endorse the Shubert Project. The Shubert will probably find this census to be useful. But the two projects are not collaborative and not trying to achieve the same results. If you would like information about the MN Shubert Project, go to www.minnesotashubert.org.
I am a choreographer…presenter…competition dance studio…rural dance artist….etc. etc. How
will this project help me?
Factual data makes any case-making more credible. You personally can place yourself in a larger context to your advantage whether talking with funders, the media, or whoever. You can present yourself, and dance in general, with credibility because you will know where you fit in the big picture. This is a way of relating to others that this community has never truly had the advantage of being able to do.
I want to get involved. What can I do?
We are looking for participants on an advisory committee. Talk to us about that. But even more importantly, talk about this project with your friends, contact us from time to time to see how it’s going, and keep the idea of it alive and welcome in Minnesota. |
