https://serenaajbani.com/home daily 0.75 2017-10-27 https://serenaajbani.com/new-cover-page daily 0.75 2017-10-27 https://serenaajbani.com/serena-ajbani daily 1.0 2019-06-17 https://serenaajbani.com/buildingthepyramid daily 0.75 2017-02-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623052848-M53DGAV08NZ0PTB66345/Ajbani_Team-1.jpg Building the Pyramid The High School Chearleader, a trope enforced by countless teen movies, books and TV shows, is popular and catty. She is usually thin and blonde, and she is always a mean girl. For the High School Cheerleader, the sport is merely a means to gaining social capital. The girls of Jordan High School’s Varsity Cheerleading Team defy every one of these stereotypes. Their dedication to their team comes from a love of cheerleading and the bond they share with one another. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623050790-L6RKIHE43L7LD981M7MR/Ajbani_Team-2.jpg Building the Pyramid Jaetta James (left) and Braxtyne Seetram (right) perfect their hair and makeup before a game. Not all the girls wear makeup to perform, but the ones who do treat it as a sacred pre-game ritual. Many athletes are superstitious about their pre-game routines. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623058673-LKPGXQM6KJW182XDWTLY/Ajbani_Team-3.jpg Building the Pyramid Jordan’s cheerleading and football teams prepare for their last away game at Riverside High School. They arrive one hour early so that the boys have plenty of time to dress for the game and the girls can practice their cheers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623056453-5J6C3FHFGBRTCD2YMC9K/Ajbani_Team-4.jpg Building the Pyramid Unaccompanied by their coach to their away game at Sanderson High School, the girls play “Down by the Banks” and danced for a full hour instead of practicing cheers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623061188-3V1RCZPUW487994KBRCE/Ajbani_Team-5.jpg Building the Pyramid The two team captains, Alanna Autry (left) and Senam Batse (right), take a nap on the bus to Riverside High School. “Our bond is what makes our team special,” says Alanna. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623060421-MTR569QIXXBGD5MRB0U1/Ajbani_Team-6.jpg Building the Pyramid “These need to be much better for the parents tomorrow,” says Coach Kortnee McAdams, or “Coach K” as the girls call her. The girls practice their jumps for the last time before they perform at Parent Night. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623061883-A4KVY3LY1L228AADTUI7/Ajbani_Team-7.jpg Building the Pyramid “This season started out pretty rough at first,” says co-captain Senam Batse. “We all have different styles and come from different experience levels. Alanna and Nyah are used to competitive cheering, but the rest of us have been doing Stomp N Shake. It took us a long time to blend the two styles in a way that worked for us.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623065582-TNEHYCK13ABKCLVER19U/Ajbani_Team-8.jpg Building the Pyramid The girls all meet in Coach K’s classroom at 6:00 pm to get ready for the game. Here, Kennedi Bulla meticulously paints Lazayrea Smith’s eye makeup, using a paper towel to create perfect lines. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623067118-DGT44MDX3ZQNVUDRKDFU/Ajbani_Team-9.jpg Building the Pyramid Braxytne Seetram takes a selfie while waiting for the Homecoming Queen to be announced at halftime. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623071634-U0Y8ZDJCSUAU09X6PJLL/Ajbani_Team-10.jpg Building the Pyramid Tracy Childress, Britney Overbeek and Nyah Hasan (left to right) watch their team perform at the final football game of the season. Coach K removed them from the game because they missed practice for a mandatory choir rehearsal. “It sucks that we have to sit out the last game, but I’m just glad I got to cheer on Senior Night,” says Nyah, the only senior on the team. “It’s been hard being older than the rest of the girls, but I think they look up to me. I guess that's kind of cute.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623071691-TP9NU7NAR69Y5NWUGHIP/Ajbani_Team-11.jpg Building the Pyramid The team circles up for the last time before starting their final game. Although the girls were not all close at the beginning of the season, they’ve grown to love and look out for one another, despite their different personalities and cheer styles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623072495-AQ2E8V3CYZZ596KI7BEL/Ajbani_Team-12.jpg Building the Pyramid The girls all extend their hands to help stabilize Nakhiya Shearin as she practices a jump before a game. “We might clash sometimes and there might be drama, but at the end of the day, we have each other’s backs.” https://serenaajbani.com/singles daily 0.75 2018-11-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1541459796398-ZE1CSV451SK2PG0OEQG4/Ajbani-3.jpg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1541459821821-L915IDWVRJFMGILJ6AFK/DragShutter-33.jpg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1541460391200-W3JB5NZKAD5YTC93QXBV/VJC_0810.jpg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1541457396009-GTEGD5480ZCL1XA5IPCS/image-asset.jpeg Photography - Building The Pyramid Building the Pyramid An exploration of girlhood through the eyes of the Charles E. Jordan High School Varsity Cheerleading Team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1541457429322-QZ52H5R6PH93P0YYJV23/image-asset.jpeg Photography - Equashia Equashia A story of transition, systemic oppression and the strength of family ties. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487621072653-0JTMS83CBMIY0VVHHD2U/20160913_Ajbani_Farm-09.jpg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1488226679806-H5VZEVZD63XF2NFY0ISN/Ajbani_11.jpg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1488226680270-G6W19Z46NVDMMM72VAU9/Ajbani_09.jpg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1488226670477-G8XPUCAMGUFCZYNPRH5U/Ajbani_02.jpg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1488226679201-OZ2G0T0QOP34H6E8SP0Q/Ajbani_08.jpg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1488226670697-PEHDOWL49BV4QZLD6HDR/Ajbani_03.jpg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1488226676872-RW6RGJYAV032JUBEBXAH/Ajbani_05.jpg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1488226676471-IHBTX7OGZJH24MTSBMTP/Ajbani_06.jpg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1488226680237-9WY66G3EKHEBMDIMRVDK/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-10-15%2Bat%2B5.58.46%2BPM.jpg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1541457456504-1HWTDVAVAVWPAZSDRWW3/image-asset.jpeg Photography - Marionety Marionety A photo essay about the versatile art and rich history of Czech puppetry. https://serenaajbani.com/marionety daily 0.75 2017-02-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623349321-FEQ76EFDQ5U820IVRRFP/Ajbani_InterpretiveProject-1.jpg Marionety Czech puppetry has a rich history that dates back to the early 18th century. Initially, puppets were almost as large as human beings and were used on stage alongside actors. Soon, puppetry became an art form of its own. Families passed down the craft from generation to generation and created companies to showcase their art. As time progressed, puppetry grew to become a symbol of Czech culture and nationalism. During the era of communist rule, marionette shows were performed in Czech despite the language being banned, and theaters became sites of resistance. Now an independent country, the Czechia can showcase its art with pride. Marionette stores and workshops are common tourist attractions in the country’s capital, Prague. Despite the influence of globalization, artists in Prague continue to design, carve, and perform with marionettes as they did hundreds of years ago Michaela Bartoňová is the primary artist and director of Divadlo Tineola (Tineola Theater) in Prague. She writes, stages and performs the company’s shows, along with designing and carving the marionettes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623349061-QIENPTLCZ4XGH0QTZSOV/Ajbani_InterpretiveProject-2.jpg Marionety Bartoňová typically sketches designs for her marionettes on paper, however, she has begun to use digital technology to draw her designs. Bartoňová wants to project the ancient craft of puppetry into the digital age so that the art form can evolve with the times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623350044-35LY9F9WK41E3LG3S6LZ/Ajbani_InterpretiveProject-3.jpg Marionety Carving marionettes is a long process. In the early ages of puppetry, puppets were largely faceless and formless, allowing the actor to breathe life into the puppet using movement. Today, marionettes have detailed, humanlike features and intricate costumes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623351901-X85E89A19A4KL2I8UKDF/Ajbani_InterpretiveProject-4.jpg Marionety There are many different types of marionettes. The puppets are typically attached to wooden handles with string, but the number of strings and handles can vary. Puppeteers must learn how navigate each of these marionettes with fluidity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623352053-4D1FKKZCVSFZ8G1U3ZG0/Ajbani_InterpretiveProject-5.jpg Marionety Loutkové Divadlo Jiskra is the oldest amateur puppet theater in Prague. Miloš Krása, a member of the company, waits backstage before the beginning of the weekly children’s show. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623354276-EZYRROAHZYYQ430LSM0L/Ajbani_InterpretiveProject-6.jpg Marionety Marionettes are created to mimic human form and allow artists to explore the human condition within performances, microcosms of the larger world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623353334-2ZV1GEHRKZ2ADMHS63GZ/Ajbani_InterpretiveProject-7.jpg Marionety When performing with marionettes, actors maneuver the puppets from a platform above the stage. At Loutkové Divadlo Jiskra, the platform is very small and crowded. Actors must maneuver their puppets while maneuvering around one another. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623356525-WPUFY8S1WQPHRBAQVXHU/Ajbani_InterpretiveProject-8.jpg Marionety The basement of Loutkové Divadlo Jiskra houses hundreds of puppets, many of which have not seen the light of day in years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623355324-NMURSJELTI3TH0K3EXB4/Ajbani_InterpretiveProject-9.jpg Marionety Loutkové Divadlo Jiskra is an amateur theater, which means the actors donate their time outside of their jobs to perform. Milada Malá, an amateur actor, grabs onto the cords to control the marionette on stage below her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623356242-6M4PUUNIBERY9YZTHJ9E/Ajbani_InterpretiveProject-10.jpg Marionety Each puppet is unique, exhibiting the distinct styles of the designers, carvers and costumers. Sometimes a single artist will fulfill all of these roles, but more often, the artists work together to achieve their individual visions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487623357356-559R0W1HLR8SUWQKKE28/Ajbani_InterpretiveProject-11.jpg Marionety Although puppetry is a historic art form in the Czech Republic, artists continue to pass down the tradition to the new generation in hopes of keeping Czech culture alive. https://serenaajbani.com/equashia daily 0.75 2017-02-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487622190848-3HBO9AU4M4Z0N8SFTAFA/Ajbani-01.jpg Equashia Equashia Mumin is a working mother who not only provides for her biological children, but also takes in young men in her community who hope to escape gang violence. At her home on Cecil Street in Durham, NC, Equashia provided for at least twenty people and several dogs. At her previous residence, Equashia and her landlord, Mr. Rogers, clashed constantly. Equashia has described him as a “George Zimmerman-like” character who would call law enforcement on her family for incidents as minor as parking violations. After Equashia moved to Cecil Street, Rogers complained to her new landlady, who eventually evicted her. Now, Equashia is scrambling to find a new home and struggles to maintain the community she has created. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487622189734-G1BDDD7XFBE6MLBIKLOT/Ajbani-02.jpg Equashia Equashia’s daughter, Safiyyah Mumin (left), feeds her son while chatting with a friend. Before the eviction, the Cecil Street house was always full of people. Equashia’s guests consisted of members from both the Bloods and the Crips, rival gangs that occupy Durham. While there was often conflict when the boys were out in the world, they usually spent their time at Cecil Street playing video games with one another. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487622192579-GVTT2V77IKMU2SR2FX19/Ajbani-03.jpg Equashia Around the time of the eviction, the conflict between the gangs intensified. After nightfall, cars would drive by and shoot at the house. Equashia’s son, Abdurrahman, was hit and suffered from a flesh wound. The family eventually stopped sleeping at Cecil Street, and Equashia tried to buy hotel rooms for the various people under her care. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487622194746-0YY3BC1KGF7IQOZRIUTT/Ajbani-04.jpg Equashia Chulo, the son of a family friend, sits in the backseat as Equashia drives to buy pizza for herself and her children. While Equashia used to purchase hotel rooms for Chulo’s family, she did not have enough money to continue doing so. “I have to look out for my immediate family,” says Equashia. “I can’t take care of anyone else if I can’t take care of us first.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487622195348-X9HJQXC9131FCKE7DTXX/Ajbani-05.jpg Equashia Equashia’s son, Abdurrahman, opens the gate to enter the storage facility where Equashia is storing the items that won’t fit in her van and hotel rooms. “Ever since he got shot, he’s got this chip on his shoulder,” says Equashia. Shortly after the shooting, Abdurrahman purchased a gun and began carrying it around with him at all times for protection. Out of anger, he talks about shooting the people who did this to him. “I lost a son to gang violence in 2011,” says Equashia. “These boys don’t know what it’s like to have to get that call, to have to identify your child. They talk about shooting so casually.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487622198577-KC3SE4K4ERW7YTNZD8AP/Ajbani-06.jpg Equashia Equashia is hoping that the violence will end if she moves her biological family out of Durham. She talks about creating a truce between the gangs and getting their parents involved, but is frustrated that no one is coming to the table. When talking to law enforcement about the gang violence, they told her that it was “a community problem, not a police problem.” Abdurrahman tells Equashia that moving isn’t going to change anything. “I told you this would happen when you started,” he says, referring to Equashia providing for the community’s youth. Equashia is beginning to learn that the solution to this problem is not as simple as she once thought. But with law enforcement and policy makers refusing to cooperate, she still feels responsible for offering whatever aid she can. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487622199985-3A6PFCR1VLOETB2SJJYW/Ajbani-07.jpg Equashia Tensions between Equashia’s family members start to run high, and Abdurrahman and his sister, Safiyyah, are in conflict. Safiyyah was recently arrested, and Equashia had to pay one thousand dollars for her bond. Equashia said that the police charged her with as many crimes as they could. “They wouldn’t treat a wealthy, white child like this,” she says. “Incarceration doesn’t work. You’re going to lock someone up and treat them like an animal and expect them to come back out into society. That goes beyond reason.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487622224367-7ZGQZK179LCTOBE90HZW/Ajbani-08.jpg Equashia Equashia is on the phone with Priceline to try and get a refund for a hotel room. “I paid for the room online and my bank account was charged, but when my son walked in they said they didn’t have a room for us. They didn’t give a reason, and I hope it’s not because we’re Muslim.” The forty dollars that it costs for one night at a hotel room is a significant amount of money for Equashia. Currently, she and Abdurrahman are the only family members who are earning money. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487622222635-V9FS20MN8H7JXD09OB6N/Ajbani-09.jpg Equashia Equashia’s younger son, Abdullah, and their dog, Passionate, sleep as Equashia gets ready to go to work at Wells Fargo at 5:30 am. Abdurrahman wakes up to drop her off, since she shares the van with the entire family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1487622226052-FEIBONXTB5IT03UF0UW8/Ajbani-10.jpg Equashia Equashia is currently searching for a new home, but works so often that she hasn’t had the time to tour any houses. Even if she can find a house, her main struggle is explaining her rental history to her new landlord. Until then, the family will continue to move from hotel room to hotel room, while they still have the money to do so. https://serenaajbani.com/video daily 0.75 2025-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/35b972e5-93aa-40e2-a371-f6cad9561512/QTM_3e_PublicityStill_1.jpg Video - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://serenaajbani.com/about daily 0.75 2024-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1495576788762-CF6TRJ0ORCTFM3OTE8H3/image-asset.jpeg About https://serenaajbani.com/contact daily 0.75 2018-05-14 https://serenaajbani.com/motion daily 0.75 2025-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1591581033622-XUE7M3SUOCF6HQC0EU33/fish+chips.gif Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1591581048715-V6QLITKIZ8U4ROIN3MCE/study+drugs.gif Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1591581562684-CHORU5QT584P2SCJUGF4/trash+can.gif Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1541466804140-K1UVAVL8T7L0BVXEB6E2/cbd+1-4.gif Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1541466790410-EOYNUSW3QRAQ3XCZFRUB/cbd+2-4.gif Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1541466813946-UWPR5ZC0WAUQ85D0OR9J/cbd+3-4.gif Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1541466824315-HD9ZVRN9FF5YH85YZVYX/cbd+4-4.gif Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1541464522431-CK6YY2APGSZ839DL98A2/kombucha+5-5.gif Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1541467913504-2VWMX524HJZMUT430KGJ/kombucha+1-5.gif Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1541464268482-ADDY92JEACJO9F1X2BQS/kombucha+2-5.gif Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1541464454442-JGRDZB316A4I0ARNY8V5/kombucha+3-5.gif Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1541464419063-WY4K2QNELYYZ7C1CYF3Q/kombucha+4-5.gif Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1591583045993-6D6LTI7U9Q91RGG90V8C/intro+animation.gif Motion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1591585351985-PHP94FA9Z20YADV4B1LT/intro+version+2.gif Motion https://serenaajbani.com/portraits daily 0.75 2018-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1526622223886-529X75M5NLRAJD25V54U/Ajbani-3.jpg Portraits https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1526622225974-J3VIV8SYFQBCBMAPNX5F/AjbaniHalloween-2.jpg Portraits https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1526622220669-HK5N7TNSW7FVYYGC4G6V/Ajbani-3+%281%29.jpg Portraits https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1526622232916-5JHXOCSXXNAGNI3KNN5P/IMG_2523.JPG Portraits https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1526622257065-C2BYBOZCZDVCISKP5B37/DragShutter-9.jpg Portraits https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1526622214893-2WKYW2XSHY5FGZPNJ20W/Ajbani_Fullshoot-53.jpg Portraits https://serenaajbani.com/jarvisburg-queen daily 0.75 2018-08-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1533748693288-62OWEQM98UW8E5199QZY/jb-3.jpg Jarvisburg Queen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1533748809074-A8JF44OZH49QDCZ8IQF4/jb-1.png Jarvisburg Queen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1533748747498-08R6SESBKJ5Q164SUS1R/jb-2.jpg Jarvisburg Queen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/1533748987202-OVL0BP3F55MIVKCFLVA1/jb-4.jpg Jarvisburg Queen https://serenaajbani.com/queering-the-map daily 0.75 2021-11-08 https://serenaajbani.com/queeringthemap daily 0.75 2025-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/7a2f7cdc-3cfe-441c-97b1-10bf9011a327/DSCF81131_smaller.jpg Queering The Map - Make it stand out A poet, choreographer, and urban planner, Jose Richard Aviles dances through memories at bus stops across LA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/8cf3585f-9361-46a9-ab94-b3380ef0e118/QTM_3e_PublicityStill_1.jpg Queering The Map - Make it stand out Jose Richard Aviles takes viewers on a public transportation tour of Los Angeles in the Pilot episode of Queering The Map https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/585b23412994ca5832745174/5294391b-f908-46b8-b954-67515c799d6a/Screenshot+2024-11-20+at+11.19.24+AM.png Queering The Map - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.