Melvina Cha was a speakers at the 2020 “Dancing while Hmong” event, a unique collaboration between Hmong Museum and MN Dance & the Ecstasies of Influences to share stories by dance practitioners and organizers from immigrant and refugee communities in Minnesota.
Why did you decide to participate in “Dancing while Hmong”?
“I decided to participate in this presentation because it would be interesting to see where we all connect in our different journeys in dance, who and how we were influenced. It would also be awesome to have street dance be represented in the Hmong community, since there isn’t a lot of representation there.”
What do you hope people learn or walk away from this event?
“I hope people can see how much influence they have on one another, whether you have an actual interaction with them or not. Sometimes you don’t realize until you start sharing and connecting with one another.”
What inspires you?
“My crewmates, community and those who have pushed through to reach their own goals.”
More About Melvina
Melvina Cha is a practitioner, student, and community member of the MN street dance scene. With her involvement with MN Funkstyles Crew, ALL DAY and co-owner of ALL DAY Studio, she enjoys sharing and learning from many cultures of the street dances such as Popping, Locking, Waacking/Whacking, House, Hip Hop and Krump. Melvina has participated in various events as a competitor in and out of state and has helped organize one of MN biggest Popping Jam, Get Tha Funk Down 2 and 3. Besides battles and teaching, she was given many opportunities to share the stage with local artists in productions such as Maia Maiden’s Rooted; Solo Sistah, Being Brothers; Drop The Mic 2018; and co-produced ALL DAY’s first show at the MN Fringe 2017 – Funkin Good Time. Melvina continues to seek out opportunities to learn and grow from different communities.