Storytellers, caregivers, world creators, and narrative disruptors, Black Femme/Women dancers have historically and are uniquely positioned to embody imagination and three-dimensional awareness lending to empathetic and affective community members and leaders. Through print & audio interviews, Harnessing Our Gardens archives the necessity, impact, and journey of Black Femme/Women dance leaders.
Harnessing Our Gardens is presented by Victoria Lynn Awkward with mentorship from Phaye Polikoff-Chen, Nnenna Loveth, and Angelique M. C-Dina and funding from Mass Humanities: Expanding Mass Stories.

MENTOR | Angelique Motunrayo Folasade Àyìnkẹ́ C-Dina is a first-generation Afro-Indigenous embodied theatrical storyteller based in New England. They are a current CAMD PhD student at Northeastern University focusing on Black feminist narratives and embodied theatrical practices through research-based theatre. Her performance credits include: The Inferior Sex (Trinity Repertory Company), Soul Tapes (Brown/Trinity), An Octoroon (Gamm Theatre), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Gamm Theatre), and more. Their other accolades include: KCACTF finalist '21, National Young Playwright semi-finalist '21, Ronald McNair scholar '22, Lime Arts Twenty by Twenty Fringe Playwright'23 and Lin Manuel Miranda fellow '23, and Company One Volt Lab Playwright ‘24. They also serve as a research and design assistant for two Northeastern and City Of Boston projects. She thanks God, her ancestors, and her Black and Brown Indigenous community for guiding her journey. "Ashe."
MENTOR & EDITOR |Sarah “Nnenna Loveth” Umelo Uzoma Nwafor (they/she) is an Igbo lesbian poet, performer, and facilitator. Their work explores Black g*rlhood, Black queerness, Igbo Cosmology, Sensual play and rituals of healing. Nnenna published their debut chapbook, Already Knew You Were Coming, with Game Over Books in January of 2022 and has also been featured on Button Poetry, WBUR’s ARTery, VIBEs Magazine, Ujima #Wire, etc. When Nnenna is not creating they are somewhere being romanced by the intensity of life. When they speak, their ancestors are pleased.
