The
House of PainT needs your help! We built an amazing dance floor last year only
to have it destroyed during a winter storm. With your support we can build an
even better one this year and store it safely for use in the years to come!
The
Festival:
Over five days each September House of
PainT throws the biggest urban culture jam in the Nation’s Capital –
celebrating and elevating hip hop arts and culture. Attendees of all ages enjoyurban
dance battles, DJ and MC performances, graffiti art, photography, slam poetry
and film, as well as attending workshops, courses and academic talks.Our
programs emphasize youth engagement and community development through the
creative power of art, run primarily by volunteers.
The
History:
It
all started in 2003 as a two on two competition celebrating the establishment
of Ottawa’s first legal graffiti wall. The dance floor was small and it was
built by the festival founder and her father, with the sound system borrowed
from a friend. Since then the battle has grown to become one of the most consistent
crew versus crew competitions in Canada and that small dance floor has grown to
become the focal point of the festival.
The Heart Break:
Last
year the floor reached its ultimate potential and helped to bring the dance action
closer to the audience, with great sight lines, awesome seating, and a wicked
stage! The dancers were most impressed with the floor because we took the time
and care to think about their needs. This included providing a floor that had
the right elements for a Dance Battle: lots of space, just the right amount of
spring, and a big piece of linoleum to help them spin! We even invited the
audience onto the floor at the end of the night, finishing the day off with a
bumpin’ dance party!
After
the festival we put the dance floor in storage for the year – the same storage
we’ve used since 2003. Unfortunately, a violent Canadian winter storm ripped
apart our storage tent and destroyed the best dance floor we’ve ever had.
The Need:
With
your support we know that we can recreate and surpass the success of last year
– creating a big, beautiful floor and upgrading our storage so we can maintain
it for years to come. As the festival continues to grow, we are committed to
providing the best overall experience for the performers and spectators. Help
us put on an awesome festival by supporting the construction of our dance
floor!
The Break Down:
Labour
(design and construction): $1040
Lumber
Costs: $2354
Additional
Costs (paint, hardware, transportation): $360
Safe
Storage: $1246
Total:
$5000
