Ted Somerville and his band, Sweet Poison Victim, used to perform “guerilla” shows on Monument Circle in downtown Indy around 2012.
“We would just throw an extension cable into this plug, and get the most random crowd,” he said. “And it turned into a dance party on the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.”
This August, Somerville and local dancer Koi are starting a festival to recreate the spirit of those organic moments when music and dance culture blended. It’s called The Cypher, and it will be along the canal in front of the Indiana State Museum August 9.
The free festival is named after a cypher, a dance term that describes when a crowd forms a circle and dancers take turns performing in the center, while everyone on the outside hypes them up.
The Cypher will have DJs, three bands, a drum battle, vendors and a multicultural fashion show.
Each model will wear traditional clothing from their home country, while Koi tells the story of what their outfit means in their culture. Somerville, who is also a photographer, met models for the show at city parks and at Saraga International Grocery. April Rosè, a drag performer and creative director of Indy Drag Theatre, and London Bridges, a local dancer, will vogue down the catwalk to close out the show.
Though admission is free, any donations will go to support Indy Dance Council and the Damien Center. Mirror Indy is a community partner for the event and will have a table set up, staffed by Jennifer Delgadillo, arts & culture editor, and Mesgana Waiss, arts & culture reporter.
If you go
The Cypher
🗓️ 4-9:30 p.m. Aug. 9
📍 Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St.
🎟️ Free, but you can reserve a spot online.
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Mirror Indy reporter Sophie Young covers services and resources. Contact her at sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.
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