Grantee Spotlight: LAO CULTURE DANCE FASHION MN

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MRAC’s Grantee Spotlight is a new series to showcase the impact of MRAC’s funding across communities.

LAO CULTURE DANCE FASHION MN

Disciplines: Dance / Fashion / Culture

MRAC Grant Program: Arts Impact for Groups 2023; Flexible Support 2023 and 2024

Image Description: Lao Culture Dance Fashion MN participants, adults, teens, and children. They are smiling and stand in a row in front of an elaborate red and gold draped stage with a large purple and pink poster which displays “Lao Culture Dance & Traditional Fashion Show” in both English and Lao. They are wearing Traditional Lao Silks of various colors and patterns, and varying styles of head adornments, two young women wear pageantry crowns and drape a pageantry sash over their traditional garments.

About This Grantee

Lao Culture Dance Fashion MN (LCDFMN) is a nonprofit on the forefront of preserving and promoting Lao heritage and culture. Established in 2018 by Executive Director Birdy Niphone Phommaras, each year the organization trains youth in Laotian traditional history, dance, and culture.

At the age of 18, LCDFMN executive director Birdy Niphone immigrated to the United States in 1989. She noticed a lack of opportunities for the youth of Lao Lutheran Church. There was a need for these youth to learn more about Laotian culture and traditional arts. Motivated to preserve and promote the rich artistic traditions of Laos, she embarked on a journey to teach traditional Laotian dance and culture.

In 1991, Birdy Niphone trained 15 Lao students from Roosevelt High School to perform traditional Lao dances. Recognizing the importance of cultural preservation, Birdy Niphone started organizing her own Fashion Show in 2013, garnering praise and commendations from State Senate and Lao veteran groups. Eventually, Birdy’s efforts grew into the official establishment of her nonprofit in 2018.

LCDFMN events attract hundreds of people from diverse generations and backgrounds. Many of their attendees face socioeconomic challenges, living near or below the poverty line. Several of their event attendees navigate cultural and language barriers. The LCDFMN program is dedicated to transmitting the rich cultural knowledge and traditions to youth, their families, friends, and the community at large. Through their participation, students not only learn the value of teamwork, discipline, focus, confidence, time management, and hard work, but also witness the transformative impact of these qualities in becoming successful individuals. Many former students of LCDFMN now seek to offer their own children the same opportunities they once received.

LCDFMN is a fiscal year 2024 Flexible Support grantee. They plan to use their most recent  MRAC award to support their King Pavade Heritage Day and World Refugee Day Festivals.

Image Description: Lao Culture Dance Fashion MN participants, adults and children, stand in a row with their palms pressed together, the universal symbol for prayer hands. They are wearing Traditional Lao Silks of various colors and patterns, and varying styles of head adornments. They stand before an outdoor festival and are directly in front of a decorative alter, where a golden deity is situated at the center.

Impact Statement

“Minnesota is home to a vibrant and diverse community, including a significant population of Lao immigrants. The Lao community enriches Minnesota’s cultural landscape, bringing with them their unique traditions, including Boun Pravade Festival, traditional dance, Miss NangSangkhan pageant and fashion shows. Thanks in part to the support of MRAC grants, our organization celebrates Lao cultural heritage. We have a positive impact on both the Lao community and broader Minnesota communities.

MRAC grants allowed us to preserve and promote Lao culture through traditional storytelling. Lao Culture Dance Fashion MN teaches classes and passes down traditional Lao dances to younger generations. By participating in the Boun Pravde festival, students get to learn the history of the King Pravade Sundon. This has not only helped preserve our cultural heritage, but has also instilled a sense of pride and identity among Lao youth. Furthermore, these grants enable us to explore and showcase traditional Lao fashion.

Through festivals and community events, we educate both Lao and non-Lao community members about the rich history and significance of Lao textiles and clothing. By revitalizing communal interest in traditional Lao fashion, we ensure that this important aspect of Lao culture is not lost to future generations. The impact of our work extends beyond the Lao community and has enriched the broader Minnesota community in several ways.

Image Description: Birdy Niphone Pommaras, Executive Director Of Lao Culture Dance Fashion MN, is Wearing Traditional Lao Silks-Mai-Lap Pak-Ding, a handwoven gold and orange trimmed shawled  garment with floral stitch-work. She is wearing gold jewelry and a crown-like head dress that matches her outfit. She sits alone and poised before a backdrop of a formal banquet hall

First and foremost, our Boun Pravade performances and Traditional fashion provide opportunities for cultural exchange and understanding. These exchanges foster greater appreciation and respect for Lao culture. Additionally, our work creates opportunities for collaboration and partnership with other cultural organizations in Minnesota.

Through joint events and programming, we have been able to create a more inclusive and interconnected community, where people from diverse backgrounds come together to celebrate and learn from one another.

Lao Culture Dance Fashion MN makes Minnesota a more culturally vibrant and diverse place to live, enriching the cultural fabric of the entire state. Together, we are ensuring that future generations will continue to appreciate and celebrate the rich traditions of the Lao people.”

– Birdy Niphone Phommaras, Executive Director, Lao Culture Dance Fashion MN

Stay Connected

MRAC’s Grantee Spotlight is a new series to showcase the impact of MRAC’s funding across communities.

Stay connected with this month’s grantee: Lao Culture Dance Fashion MN

Social Media

Facebook

Instagram:  @laoculturedancefashionmn

Upcoming events

June 22nd- 23rd: King Pravade Heritage Festival

4904 217th Ave, East Bethel, MN

Oct 19th-20th: Taste of Asia

Asia Village in Northtown Mall, Blaine, MN

 

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