Since 2020, Ngoma Center for Dance’s newest program, Ngoma Film Works, has been buzzing with new its latest productions.
In partnerships with Dog Bark Media LLC, a Black-Owned media company in Washington, DC, Ngoma Film Works initial projects have received selection in more than 10 film festivals – including American Dance Festival’s Movies By Movers.
“Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, many of my dance elders have begun passing away. Their stories, and many others before them, have gone with the “wind of time”. We talk about the youth knowing their history, we need to do a better job of educating and film is one way to aid tomorrow’s DC area dance students.” – Founding Director Shawn Short
The program was essential with providing a platform for DDT’s COVID-restricted 14th season.
Mute, an 18 min film short surrounding an international cast of dancers as they discuss (while in lockdowns) the George Floyd murder, Black Lives Matter, COVID, and loss of employment, as they view their futures with optimism for the future. This project included a remote cast due to COVID protocols, staff, and gave an opportunity for DDT’s Resident Choreographer Kareem B. Goodwin to receive his first film credit as a choreographer.
Today, Ngoma looks towards the future and embraces the growing world of digestible media content. While theatres are slowly recovering, Ngoma will develop its catalog of documentary films that speaks to its history and its community.
Launched in the Summer of 2020 in partnership with Dog Bark Media (a DC-based media company), Ngoma Film Works (NFW) is a program that highlights urban and classic society, human relationships, cultural history, and “visual-choreo” art through documentaries and narrative film.
Created to further Ngoma’s ability to enlighten artists through creative innovation, expand its audience viewership and build new video and visual artist relationships for future collaboration Ngoma Film Works furthers Ngoma’s mission of community integration, inspirational performance, and artistic development.
Goals of the Program:
1. Create original stories that further the field of dance.
2. Push creative innovation that celebrates the African-American experience.
3. Pose questions through narrative film, to engage and inspire.