Theme: HBCUs Experience and Pride

This piece was inspired by the dance lines at HBCUs. When I was thinking about my HBCU experience, I thought about the showtime band, and the dance line that performs with it. The way they perform, the music they perform to, and the way they dress is so unique to the HBCU experience, and I wanted to portray this energy in my piece. Every time I see the showtime dance-line at my HBCU I am in awe of who we are as a people. I believe this form of expression is one of many ways we as Black people are unique and versatile in every way. As someone who isn’t that coordinated, I chose to translate this expression the best way I knew how.

Asha Gaines-Smith Year/School: Junior/ Howard University Major: Theatre Technology Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio Instagram: @asha_does_art Twitter: @ashagainessmith Link to portfolio: https://ashaegs.wixsite.com/portfolio

Hello my name is Asha Gaines-Smith and I am a junior Theatre Technology Major from Cleveland Ohio. I am currently the Marketing Director for The Howard Players, a witness for The Howard University Mock Trial, Fine Arts Student Liaison, and a member of the Transfer Student Association. I chose to go to Howard because I wanted to be educated in its strong theatre program and have the same experiences as so many great artists that have graduated from Howard. The best thing about going to an HBCU is the ability I have to experience classes made by my people and for my people. I love that I get to have an unapologetically Black experience every time I go to class. After I graduation I plan to either go directly into working in an art department for television and films or continue my education.

On the HBCU Student Showcase:
As part of NBA All-Star 2021, seven students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) created artwork depicting their experiences as HBCU students. The students selected themes representing HBCU student athletes, dance lines, bands and school legacies as inspiration for their creations. They also drew a connection to the impact of COVID-19 on HBCUs through their work.