HOUSTON, Texas — A dance company in Houston is bringing Texas’ Black history to life on stage through captivating performances.
Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective is dedicated to fostering art and wellness projects, particularly from the perspectives of Black women and girls.
“We launched our journey in 2018,” shared Stacey Allen, the artistic director and founder of Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective. “Our goal was to authentically convey African American narratives using the mediums of dance and art.”
The collective, which spans multiple generations, trains its dancers in a unique blend of African Diaspora dance, ballet, and modern dance techniques.
“We have the opportunity to narrate the stories of our ancestors and our rich history, especially focusing on Black history,” explained dancer Mia Hall. “I also have a deep appreciation for the Afro-modern dance style we practice. It was unfamiliar to me before joining, but now that I’m immersed in it, I’ve developed a real passion for it.”
“Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective tries to focus on bridging generations,” said Allen. “So we have a group of adult professional dancers who are the main company members, but every show we always are very intentional about inviting young people to come and join us.”
Since 2022, Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective has been performing a historically-inspired dance and theater production called The Fairytale Project across Texas. The Fairytale Project tells the real-life love story of Jim and Winnie Shankle, who founded one of Texas’ earliest freedom colonies, Shankleville. Nia’s Daughters founder Stacey Allen has a personal connection to their story, since some of her own family members are descendants of the Shankles.
“Jim and Winnie were enslaved on a plantation in Mississippi, and then Winnie, the wife, was sold to a plantation in Texas,” said Allen. “Jim decided he did not want to live without his wife and his family, and so he escaped, traveling through slave territory, crossing the Mississippi River, and reconnecting with his wife in Newton County.”
For a second year, Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective is producing and hosting the official Juneteenth Return in Galveston. You can see The Fairytale Project performed at 2pm on Friday, June 19, at the Juneteenth Legacy Headquarters, located at 2217 The Strand.
For more information on Nia’s Daughters, visit niasdaughters.com.