from seed to bloom

An intimate evening length event conceived by Natalya Janay Shoaf to honor journey and evolution. This event encased a contemporary dance performance that served as a pathway to self-discovery for Natalya. This is Natalya’s first self-produced show.

Two people hugging on a stage, with one holding a colorful book, surrounded by an audience, in a spacious room with cream curtains.
A person with long dreadlocks in athletic clothing performing a dance move or pose on a gray floor in front of a cream-colored curtain with colorful floral decorations.
A woman in black dance attire performing an expressive dance move on a studio stage with a beige backdrop and another woman seated at a desk in the background.
A woman with dreadlocks practicing dance or yoga, standing barefoot on a large open mat with a cream curtain in the background.
A woman with dreadlocks practicing a dance move on stage with a cream-colored curtain backdrop.
A woman dancing or performing a movement pose on stage in front of a backdrop of cream-colored curtains.
A woman practicing dance or acrobatics, balancing on one leg and holding her other leg behind her, against a plain cream-colored backdrop.
A woman with dreadlocks in athletic clothing crouches with her hands covering her face, standing on a stage with a beige curtain backdrop.
A young woman with dreadlocks sitting on a green chair receiving a certificate from an older woman in black clothing, both seated on small chairs on a stage with cream curtains in the background.
Two women filming a seated audience with a smartphone on a tripod in a large indoor space.
A woman with dreadlocks dressed in black athletic shorts and a black tank top standing barefoot on a dance studio floor, facing away from the camera. In the background, another woman with curly hair, also in black, sitting on a high stool near a desk
A woman with dreadlocks in athletic clothing performs a yoga pose on a mat indoors, while another woman watches from a stool near a work table with electronic equipment.
A woman with dreadlocks standing on a stage in front of a plain curtain, seemingly in distress or deep thought.

  • Natalya Janay Shoaf’s first self-produced show. A free event created to honor journey and evolution.

    46 in attendance.

    A mixed audience of toddlers, former students, parents of students, family, fellow artist, and elders within the community all showed up to celebrate this milestone for Natalya.

    Upon entrance, each audience member was given a vile of wild flower seeds to plant and to be a part of the “from seed to bloom” process.

  • I.

    “You Can’t Play”

    Choreographed by Robert Moses & Natalya Janay Shoaf

    Pause

    II.

    “Girrrrrrl, these people”

    Choreographed by laura elaine ellis & Natalya Janay Shoaf

    Pause

    III.

    “ Amwela Lingo ”

    Choreographed by Natalya Janay Shoaf

    Q&A

  • This event took a village to bring into fruition.

    This project was fueled and amplified by:

    • All whom were in attendance

    • CA$H Dance Grant

    • Mentors & Collaborators: laura elaine ellis & Robert Moses

    • Dance Mission Theatr

    • My supportive husband

    • My amazing crew: Jocelynn Newman (Project Manager) , Jordon Ellis Dabney (FOH Support) , Tara Bucknor (FOH SUpport) & Dazaun Soleyn (Q&A Moderator)

    • Zaccho Dance Theatre for welcoming this project into their space

What Audience Members Are Saying

“Amwela Lingo resonated with me the most. The inner and outer struggles of life with the realization that we are responsible for processing however those struggles made us feel. Taking responsibility to heal the trauma inherited, given, and self inflicted.”

— Guerlain Harris response to “Amwela Lingo”

“Power, beauty, struggle, & passion.”

— Anonymous

“I saw anatomy of elements & a story of transformation and change .”

— Anonymous response to “Amwela Lingo”

“I saw continued focus even as many directions requested your attention and intense energy .”

— Anonymous response to “You Can’t Play”

“I saw constraint and someone pulled into many directions .”

— Anonymous response to “You Can’t Play”

“I saw anatomy of elements & a story of transformation and change .”

— Anonymous response to “Amwela Lingo”

“Fighting to plant your roots against a system made to stunt your growth .”

— Anonymous

“Wisdom Exchange.”

— Anonymous response to “Girrrrrl, these people!”

“I witnessed struggle & tension. A person unable to fully be. I witnessed a story of someone being held back .”

— Anonymous response to “You Can’t Play”

“Power, a coming into strength and harnessing of that strength to understand oneself.”

— Anonymous response to “Amwela Lingo”

“Graceful interpretation of soul searching and self-discovery.”

— Anonymous response to From Seed to Bloom Event

“I saw determination of body.”

— Anonymous

“I witnessed resolve, release, and a glimpse of happiness mixed with residual anger and/or spite. It made me feel so many emotions, I will be thinking about this one for the next couple of days. ”

— Brandon Graham’s response to “Amwela Lingo”