Elevate Portland Takes Over Chinatown

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Karina Skauge, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Huy Pham

Huy Pham, Photo Credit: Everett Bouwer

Portland choreographer Huy Pham is making his way back to Portland after a few years in Los Angeles to bring his Elevate Block Party for the first time to Rip City.

On Saturday, September 27th from 5pm-11pm different artists will be coming together in Portland’s Chinatown to collaborate and celebrate their art forms.

Now in its third year and having toured nationally at multiple different events, the Block Party is finally coming to Portland with Pham hoping it will help bring the younger generations back into Portland’s Chinatown. This particular event will be promoting a place where youths can outlet their art.

“I grew up in Portland and I lived the last few years in Los Angeles,” says Pham. “Coming back to Portland after seeing how a major metropolitan city operates made me see there is limited outlets for our youths,” Pham says. With his success in bringing young artists together in other cities, Pham seeks out to do the same for young Portlanders. “Seeing the impact that it has on bringing young folks together is monumental,” Pham says.

Having seen the impact his Block Parties has on communities it’s no wonder Pham would want to share the experience with his home city. Rather than emphasising any one headlining artist, the Block Party is all about the collaboration of multiple artists.

The lineup includes choreographers Toogie Barcelo and Kumari Suraj, DJ Doc Adam, and Ethiopian Dance Music the Tezeta Band. “The vibe is nothing like going to a concert. People come to experience things they’ve never experienced. It’s all about the community and their love for the art,” says Pham.

Huy Pham

Huy Pham, Photo Credit: Everett Bouwer

Get together to be a part of this movement. It’s time to Take Over Chinatown! “We are artists and activists. Everything we do, we believe in challenging the status quo. We uplift, educate, encourage, respect, share and most importantly, we love. We operate a dance studio and creative lab. We also throw an annual block party. Our mission is to provoke change through the arts. This includes exposure to everything from socio-political issues to environmental ones. Our vision is a global community that is awake, aware and connected,” is the mantra created by Elevate Portland.

Portland Chinatown, Between 3rd & 4th on NW Davis St., http://www.elevatedaily.org/blockparty/, 5pm-11pm, Box Office 4:30pm, Saturday, September 27, Wristbands $20, Intensive and All-Access Passes $79

Homepage Photo Credit: Everett Bouwer (Own Work)