Celebrating Art for Black History Month

This year’s annual assembly in honor of Black History Month celebrated Black art. Winsor’s affinity groups for Black students—Upper School SISTERS and Lower School SOMOS/SISTERS—hosted the morning event, which brought together faculty, staff, and students in the David E. and Stacey L. Goel Theater. 

Each year, the affinity groups pick a theme for their school-year meetings. Choosing to focus on Black art, students have learned about different genres all year, including step—a high-energy percussive dance style that uses the body as an instrument, and performed their own routine for the audience.

Lower School SOMOS/SISTERS have also been learning about Black dancers and created one-page infographics for icons like Alvin Ailey, Josephine Baker, and Misty Copeland, which are hanging around the school as a celebration of Black History Month. 

A highlight of the assembly was a performance by youth artists from OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center. Founded in 1994 by Artistic Director Shaumba-Yandje Dibinga, OrigiNation is a non-profit organization that produces innovative and dynamic performing arts programs that motivate, challenge, and inspire youth to be the best they can be through dance, theater arts, and African history education. They have even choreographed for artis like Lizzo, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, and others.

With programs for young people ages 3 to 18, students culminate their time with the organization by auditioning for the NIA Dance Troupe for girls and boys ages 16–18. The program serves between 60 and 65 young people annually and company members are simultaneously enrolled in the Performance Arts Program. Two Winsor students have been members of OrigiNation—Amanie Yusef ’25 and Desiree Winston-Johnson ’24. 

Now an alum, Desiree helped out backstage while Amanie took the stage with fellow NIA Dance Troupe performers for the show. An abbreviated version of “Our Story,” the program wove together spoken word, singing, and dance to explore Black history from African enslavement to present day.

A senior both at Winsor and with OrigiNation, Amanie is lauded for doing an incredible amount of work both inside and outside the studio, including during off hours and helping with choreography and organizing music. Ms. Dibinga, who called Amani “dope,” insisted she take another bow, and the auditorium went wild for their classmate. 

“Black history is American history,” said Ms. Dibinga, who attended the performance. “For the school to celebrate all ethnicities is so important. This is amazing,” she said of Winsor hosting the show.