Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maia Maiden. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Maia, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Minnesota is filled with an eclectic mix of wonderfully talented and generously committed performing artists. From different styles and genres to the variety years dedicated to craft and thought provoking, inspiring works-Minnesota rivals in performing arts scene. Presenters are apart of the performing arts scene too-and the mix is just as eclectic. There is a wide range including small, mid-size, large, independent, community based, college/university and arts organizations–and what artists and types of art each ones presents is just as expansive. So, where does Hip Hop/street dance fix into the mix? What presenter is making an intentional investment to uplift, honor and celebrate Hip Hop/street dance artists, culture and community– putting Minnesota based artists first? Calling Maia Maiden aka Rah Fyah, Curator and Director of Maia Maiden Productions to the stage, front and center.

Taking a risk, she created ROOTED: Hip Hop Choreographers’ Evening in 2009 to address several imbalances in Minnesota performing arts impacting the audience and artists. First, there is a lack of Hip Hop/street dance on mainstream stages in MN. In any given dance season, less than 5% of choreographers presented are Hip Hop and Street. Second, for a long time in Minnesota, even though Black and Brown people originated the styles and there were lots of Black and Brown people doing Hip Hop, until recently most people onstage were white. Also, historically women have been under-represented in all elements of Hip Hop. Lastly, building a relationship beyond the performance where audience and artists can connect and learn in a quality, authentic cultural engagement.

As the doors opened in June 2009 for ROOTED at Patrick’s Cabaret (now The Hook and Ladder Theater) in Minneapolis, she did not know what to expect. The outcome-sold out performances with lines around the block to get in, with artists and audiences asking “when are you going to do this again?!” 14 years later, award-winning ROOTED is still here selling out all shows, making a contribution to culture and community.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Award-winning Maia Maiden Productions is a BIPOC and Women-led independent Twin Cities-based performing arts presenter. Our foundation is Hip-Hop. Our mission is to provide an equitable and engaging platform for Hip Hop, BIPOC, youth, and women through performing arts. Established in 2009, the MMP team includes Maia Maiden (Curator and Director), Ashuna Moore (Production Manager), and Corina Seuasoukseng (Media Producer).

A South Minneapolis native, Maia aka Rah Fyah has been a leader in the dance community for over 20 years. Representing Hip Hop culture, Maiden’s background includes being a dancer and choreographer. She has served on numerous fellowship/grant panels and has been recognized with many honors including Minnesota Sage Dance Award for Outstanding Performance, McKnight International Choreographers Residency Partner, Ordway Sally Award for Initiative, Independent Sector Upswell Fellow, American Express Next Generation Fellow, 20/20 Springboard for the Arts Fellow, Star Tribune Fall Arts Changemakers Honoree for Dance and City Pages’ People Issue Honoree: Meet the Unsung Heroes of the Twin Cities. Currently, she is the Director of Arts Learning and Community Engagement at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, one of the U.S.’s leading non-profit performing arts centers. She is also the Board Chair of City of St. Paul’s Cultural STAR and board member of Twin Cities Jazz Fest and Forecast Public Art.

Ashuna, Kent State graduate and MN Sage Dance Award nominee joined MMP in 2014- building excellent artist relationships and savvy marketing strategies. Corina, a multidisciplinary Lao-American artist, and MN Sage Dance Award nominee, also joined MMP in 2014-creating outstanding videography and signature photography looks.

MMPs flagship presentations include ROOTED: Hip-Hop Choreographers’ Evening, Sistah Solo| Being Brothas, and The SOTA Movement: Minnesota’s Street Dance Festival (premiered June 9-11, 2023).

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Support, support, support! There are so many ways to support artists and their work, so pick one way that works for you. It is okay to change what your support looks like and how you support.

Pro-tip: The more you show up, the more the artists get to know you.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Go get these grants and funding! Yes, you. Minnesota believes in the power of the arts and there are funds to back it up. MMP did not start getting funded until 2018, that means everything we did up until this point was out of own pockets. We didn’t think grants and funding applied to us because no one from Hip Hop was being awarded (until we did). Since 2018, we are proud to say we have received over 20 grants (written by Maia Maiden).

Pro-tip: Don’t know where to start? Try Springboard for the Arts-they have great tools, resources and consultants to help you succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.maiamaiden.com
• Instagram: rah.fyah
• Facebook: maiamaidenprod
• Other: www.sotamove.com

Image Credits
Roosevelt Mansfield III, DigieMade Photography