“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.” The dance instructor counts the beats to the song and she follows by extending and contracting her arms and legs. Moving from one position to another, sweat drips down her concentrated face. CVHS junior, Shiloh Ngumbu practices her routine at the Stafford Convention Centre stage in preparation for her performance for the Urban Nutcracker. The Urban Nutcracker is a retelling of the traditional Nutcracker, but in this version, when the doll comes to life, it takes Clara, the main character, on a tour throughout Houston. “There is one scene called Emancipation Park which represents Third Ward and the Hip Hop scene there,” Ngumbu said. Participating in the Emancipation Park and Afro-Houston scenes of the show, Ngumbu showcased her talent by performing Hip Hop and Afro dances throughout the show.
What started off as an after school activity at the age of five for Ngumbu and her siblings while her mother was at work, transformed into a life long passion. “ I really like how dynamic it [dance] can be and how it’s not rigid, everything is connected,” Ngumbu said.
Ngumbu dances for the CVHS competitive dance team, Encore Dance club, and for the Urban Nutcracker. Being involved in multiple dance organizations, she finds ways to center herself and prioritize both her physical and mental health. “ I drink a lot of water, stretch throughout the day, and I try to keep myself in a confident headspace,” Ngumbu stated.
An important part of her routine to gain a confident headspace is by telling herself affirmations during her alone time. “If you don’t know yourself, and if you’re not in touch with yourself, then it’s very hard to even establish that sense of confidence to begin with, which is why I feel like it’s important to prioritize meditation and manifesting,” Ngumbu remarked.
Coming from an African household, Ngumbu often found herself as the only black girl in the dance room. Being the only girl of color in the room most of the time taught her how to be confident and to find strength from within. However, this experience was still isolating and lonely at times. The first studio she ever attended, the people who ran the studio were two elderly white ladies who, according to Ngumbu, were very traditional. “ Whenever we would have recitals or performances, they would never let me wear protective styles. I always had to straighten my hair, which damaged my hair,” Ngumbu said. She also had to wear pink tights instead of her own skin colored tights at performances that always made her feel isolated from the rest of her peers. In these moments she found community with the other black girls that would come and go to that studio. Since then, Ngumbu has felt accepted and seen in her role at the Urban Nutcracker. “ It has really shown me that dance is a diverse world,” Ngumbu said.
As Ngumbu has grown up with dance, she has also had her brother by her side, dancing with her. While they both individually dance for different dance companies, the sibling duo come together every year to dance with the Urban Nutcracker. “My favorite dance memory with my sister is when we both did the Houston Urban Nutcracker summer workshop and auditions together, because it was a new experience for both of us to dance in so many different styles,” Gabriel Ngumbu said.
Their sibling dynamic consists of them learning from each other and pushing the other to be the best they can be. Gabriel has developed his own style, personality, and technique in the Hip Hop genre inspired from his sister. “ Her dance style is energetic, sassy, and confident. She definitely knows how she wants to appear when she is dancing,” Gabriel Ngumbu explains.
Dancing has shaped their relationship by giving them a common interest that they can bond over and a way to spend time together. This has made growing up a unique but positive experience for the both of them. “ I hope people understand when they see her dance that she is a very talented, hardworking individual that deserves her chance to shine as much as anyone else,” Gabriel Ngumbu said.
As she continues to grow Ngumbu hopes that dance is a consistent hobby that she keeps up with. She aspires to work in business and plans to one day incorporate her love of dance into her career and future. “ Dance will be the thing to keep me okay.”
