Ava Garland, a member of the class of 2023 at Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Maryland is a student on the move. Literally. She ends her high school years with an extensive background in all forms of dance.
“Dancing has made me a better person in general because it exposed me to so many different types of people,” Garland said.
“In dance, you have to work with and understand people who come from different backgrounds than you.”
At her coeducational high school that is sponsored by the Brothers of Holy Cross, Garland participated in the classical dance program and the traditional African dance program. She has also trained outside of school in contemporary dance. She said that while she enjoys all forms of dance, participating in the traditional African dance program was her favorite.
“As an African American, I feel like we are often very distanced from our original roots and where we come from. Traditional African dance gives me a sense of being deeply rooted in my culture,” she said. “It is important that it is shown (to the greater community), because it is not very well known. It is important that we have it and we showcase it.”
She noted that “because African dance is so big and fun, many people think that it is not as technical as classical dance, but that is not true. African dance is a technique that is perfected over the years,” she said. “And the excitement I get from it is that it is a style that really allows me to show my personality. It is also great way to release any stress.”
Dancing, she added, has helped with her academic career. She graduates from McNamara with a 4.3 grade point average. Part of her success, she said, is due to her participation in dance because “it takes a lot of discipline and perseverance to dance and that pushed me to go above and beyond my limits and that crossed over into my academic life.”
Earlier this spring, Garland had the lead role in McNamara’s Traditional African Music and Dance /Sankofa production of “Yaa Asantewaa and the Battle for The Golden Stool.” The production was based on the true story of Yaa Asantewaa, an Ashanti warrior queen who in 1900 led the Ashanti War of Independence against the British Empire.
“It was like a break from reality, because when I am dancing on stage, whatever character I am supposed to be or an emotion that I have to convey, that is what I concentrate on,” she said. “It gave me a mental break from everything else I have going on.”
The “everything else” for Garland included running cross country and track for the Mustangs, being a member of the National Honor Society, the Science Honor Society and the Math Honor Society and participating in the school’s Black Cultural Alliance. That alliance, she said, “offers a safe space for students to talk about controversial issues about race and about other things” and arranges a Black History Month assembly. She and two friends also established a make-up and skin care club that encourages members to have greater self- confidence.
Her favorite class at McNamara was global studies because “it was really interesting to learn about different cultures, and it made me feel like I am connected to the whole world.” She called her education at McNamara “a fulfilling experience.”
“The experiences I have had at McNamara definitely improved me … (and) made me the person I am,” she said. “McNamara
is like a big family – we are all different, but we are all friends and we all talk and we all share experiences. That made me more knowledgeable and a better person.”
Garland is the daughter of Tiffany and Maurice Garland of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Her younger sister, Amina, is a sophomore at McNamara. She also has an older sister Ayanna.
Garland was accepted to the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), New York University (NYU), the University of Maryland, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Michigan. She chose Michigan for its Stephen M. Ross School of Business, but said she would look into the university’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance once she gets there.
