The Africana Theatre and Dance Collection as a Teaching Resource

FAIN: AB-258961-18

Howard University (Washington, DC 20059-0001)
Ofosuwa M. Abiola (Project Director: June 2017 to February 2021)

Student training in archival methods, cataloguing, and digitization, leading to the establishment of an Africana Theatre and Dance Collection in Howard University’s Founders Library.

This project seeks to establish an Africana Theatre and Dance Collection in Howard University’s Founders Library. The Africana Theatre and Dance Collection will make an extensive number of rich primary sources which are currently uncatalogued and housed in Founders, available for Howard University students, faculty, and staff, area colleges and universities, and the community at large.

Associated Products

AHA Member Spotlight (Web Resource)
Title: AHA Member Spotlight
Author: Matthew Keough
Abstract: Interview posted on AHA's blog site.
Year: 2018
Primary URL: https://www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/december-2018/aha-member-spotlight-ofosuwa-m-abiola

Fine Arts Professor Making Strides In Increasing Awareness On Importance Of African Dance Through New Book (Web Resource)
Title: Fine Arts Professor Making Strides In Increasing Awareness On Importance Of African Dance Through New Book
Author: Matthew Kough
Abstract: Interviewed by Howard University news room.
Year: 2018
Primary URL: https://newsroom.howard.edu/newsroom/article/9176/fine-arts-professor-making-strides-increasing-awareness-importance-african

Digital Howard, Channing Pollock - Africana Theatre and Dance Collection (Database/Archive/Digital Edition)
Title: Digital Howard, Channing Pollock - Africana Theatre and Dance Collection
Author: Ofosuwa Abiola
Abstract: Digital Howard is a digital archival database. Channing Pollock Theatre Collection is the founding theatre archive in Digital Howard. The Africana Theatre and Dance Collection is a curated collection of primary sources collected under the Channing Pollock Collection.
Year: 2020
Primary URL: https://dh.howard.edu/pollock_africana/
Primary URL Description: The primary URL directs visitors to the Digital Howard platform, and then to the Africana Theatre and Dance Collection under the Channing Pollock Collection.
Access Model: Digital Howard is an open access database.

The Nankama Africana Dance Conference (Database/Archive/Digital Edition)
Title: The Nankama Africana Dance Conference
Author: Ofosuwa Abiola
Abstract: The Nankama Africana Dance Conference is a two-day conference that focuses on research on dance and performance of African and the Diaspora.
Year: 2020
Primary URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkh5lK6Nuc8&t=2s
Primary URL Description: YouTube URL.
Access Model: YouTube, open access

NEH Grant Project Samples on Professor Abiola's Website (Database/Archive/Digital Edition)
Title: NEH Grant Project Samples on Professor Abiola's Website
Author: Ofosuwa Abiola
Abstract: Samples from the Africana Theatre and Dance Collection
Year: 2020
Primary URL: https://www.oabiola.org/project-samples
Access Model: Open access

NEH Grant Project Samples on Professor Abiola's Website - flyers (Web Resource)
Title: NEH Grant Project Samples on Professor Abiola's Website - flyers
Author: Ofosuwa Abiola
Abstract: Samples of flyers from the 1950s through 2011 contained in the Africana Theatre and Dance Collection.
Year: 1950
Primary URL: https://www.oabiola.org/neh-project-flyers

Geoffrey Holder's Calypso Festival - NEH Samples on Professor Abiola's Website (Web Resource)
Title: Geoffrey Holder's Calypso Festival - NEH Samples on Professor Abiola's Website
Author: Geoffrey Holder
Abstract: A sample magazine created in 1957 to promote a musical directed by Geoffrey Holder.
Year: 1957
Primary URL: https://www.oabiola.org/calypso-festival-photos

The Davis and Dee Theatre Workshops (Web Resource)
Title: The Davis and Dee Theatre Workshops
Author: N/A
Abstract: A program announcing a lecture/workshop series instructed by Ruby Dee and Ozzie Davis at Howard University.
Year: 1990
Primary URL: https://www.oabiola.org/ruby-dee-ozzie-davis

The Channing Pollock Collection - Student Product Website (Web Resource)
Title: The Channing Pollock Collection - Student Product Website
Author: Jade Scott
Abstract: This website was created to expose the public about the Africana Theatre and Dance Collection.
Year: 2020
Primary URL: https://jadescott194.wixsite.com/mysite-1

Rhythmically Apparent - Student Website (Web Resource)
Title: Rhythmically Apparent - Student Website
Author: Keishonna Belcher
Abstract: Rhythmically Apparent tells the story of the origins of American tap dancing.
Year: 2020
Primary URL: https://keishonnabelcher.wixsite.com/mysite

Afro-Caribbean Dance - Student Website (Web Resource)
Title: Afro-Caribbean Dance - Student Website
Author: Gillian Clifford
Abstract: Utilizing sources from the Africana Theatre and Dance Collection, the website explains the diverse types of Caribbean dance performed.
Year: 2020
Primary URL: https://gilliannoellecliff.wixsite.com/afro-caribbean-dance

Academic Website (Web Resource)
Title: Academic Website
Author: Ofosuwa M. Abiola
Abstract: This website provides information about the scholar/PI who established the Africana Theatre and Dance Collection with the generous contribution of NEH.
Year: 2021
Primary URL: https://www.oabiola.org
Primary URL Description: Academic and professional website. This website contains information about the scholar who was awarded the NEH grant to establish the Africana Theatre and Dance Collection. It includes research interests, publications information, and products of the NEH grant award.

NEH Grant/Director's Website (Web Resource)
Title: NEH Grant/Director's Website
Author: Ofosuwa Abiola
Abstract: Announcement and description of the NEH grant project on Professor Abiola's website.
Year: 2021
Primary URL: https://www.oabiola.org/neh

Fire Under My Feet: History, Race and Agency in African Diaspora Dance (Book)
Title: Fire Under My Feet: History, Race and Agency in African Diaspora Dance
Editor: Ofosuwa Abiola
Abstract: **Although the Africana Theatre and Dance Collection was not used directly to edit this book, establishing the Collection provided inspiration for exploring other iterations of African diaspora dance. The result was Fire Under My Feet. Abstract: Written documentation and diverse methodologies are buttressed by the experiences of those whose lives are built around the practice of African diaspora dance. Replete with original perspectives, this book makes a significant contribution to dance and African diaspora scholarship simultaneously. Most important, it highlights the work of researchers from Ecuador, India, Puerto Rico, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and it exposes under-researched and omitted voices of the African diaspora dance world of the aforesaid locations and Puerto Rico, Columbia, and Trinidad as well.
Year: 2021
Primary URL: https://www.routledge.com/Fire-Under-My-Feet-History-Race-and-Agency-in-African-Diaspora-Dance/Abiola/p/book/9780367713287
Primary URL Description: This URL link connects to the publisher's website.
Secondary URL: https://www.oabiola.org/mybooks
Secondary URL Description: This secondary link is to the author's website (third book down), for those who want more information about the book itself.
Access Model: Fire Under My Feet is available for purchase from the publisher, Routledge, and other booksellers.
Publisher: Routledge
Type: Edited Volume
ISBN: 9780367713287
Copy sent to NEH?: No

The History of Africana Dance: Documenting Our Past (Web Resource)
Title: The History of Africana Dance: Documenting Our Past
Author: Ofosuwa Abiola
Abstract: This is my pedagogy website. I introduce students to additional recourses for their studies in Africana dance history.
Year: 2021
Primary URL: https://ofosuwaabiolaphd.org/publications-%26-research
Primary URL Description: This website includes introductory information about the Africana Theatre and Dance Collection. It is the pedagogy website that I use to teach my Dance History I and Dance History II courses. Through a link, this website introduces the Collection and then directs students to my other academic website that has detailed information on the Africana Theatre and Dance Collection.

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