B All That You Can Be

"A b-girl be free, reigning supreme," sings local diva Desdamona on her fresh new CD "The Source." The song is "Triple Goddess," a multi-part tale of women whom you might call "b-girls." It's a story of creatively talented young women dealing with life -- some doing great, some struggling to get by -- but be it through a mic, a pen, a couple of turntables or a spray can, each holds her head high.

Such are the stories of the women involved with Intermedia Arts' third annual B-Girl Be festival. The summerlong exhibition of women in hip-hop kicks off this weekend with a four-day, roof-raising "summit." A multicultural congregation of some of the world's most talented hip-hop artists will gather in Minneapolis to take part.

Just don't be surprised to see them arriving on wheels sans flashy rims. Commercial rap music's requisite bling-flossin' exists in a world far removed from the realm of higher consciousness aimed at by the B-Girl Be.

B-Girl Be co-founder, co-curator and performer Desdamona may be the event's royal doyenne, but the summit is organized by a five-woman curatorial team and powered by a collective of individuals who want to deliver a positive message to the entire artistic community.

"Much of the U.S. and the world sees American hip-hop as associated with violence, drugs or oversexualization of women," says Theresa Sweetland, Intermedia Arts' artistic director and a B-Girl Be co-founder/curator. "Throughout the year we are working to support local female hip-hop artists and working in Twin Cities schools with the next generation to give them positive role models and perspectives on hip-hop.

"I wish B-Girl Be could bring mainstream attention to the real underground movement in hip-hop -- one that embraces activism, equality and raw talent coming from the street."

Traversing the various disciplines of hip-hop culture, B-Girl Be boasts a stellar lineup of local and visiting DJ and MC talent. In addition, b-girls from around the country will be break-dancing, acclaimed aerosol artists such as Puerto Rico's ZORI4 and New York City's legendary Lady Pink will create murals, and the whole she-bang will be woven together with interactive discussions, panels and workshops.

First-time volunteer Machen Davis says she got involved because "I fully believe the presence of B-Girl Be in the hip-hop community will have a lasting impact on younger generations of girls interested in hip-hop."When a person, whether she's an artist or a volunteer, comes in during the summit to work, she or he can see how much preparation it took just to get it into place," says Turner. "It teaches the value of community gathering and celebration."

This is a lesson not lost on local breaker B-Girl Seoul. She's been involved in the summit in each year of its existence, she says, because of "the support that this event has given me as a woman and as a dancer." Empowered by that support, and in some respects otherwise frustrated by the Twin Cities arts community, she talks of longing to see dancers stand up for what they deserve.

Promoting confidence as well as consciousness, the summit is as much an opportunity to share and learn as it is a chance to admire the talent and work of the performers involved. The performers themselves are teachers, using music, film, poetry, aerosol art and dance to help the message flourish.

One such teacher is Lady Pink. A key figure in the rise of graffiti art and a star in the classic 1982 hip-hop film "Wild Style," she arrived in town early and was busy working on a mural with a dozen or so children one day last week. Later that evening, a near-exhausted Lady Pink revealed by phone that the reason she returns to the summit is "to kick a little fire into these young girls' butts by producing good work."

For the women of B-Girl Be, artistic expression is a powerful tool capable of wielding positive sociocultural change. As Lady Pink puts it, "To inspire younger girls isn't an easy road. But if you're blessed with talent, it is your duty to make use of it -- no matter what those guys out there say to you."