Harlem Ice: The Selects Folder

Harlem Ice: The Selects Folder explores an in-depth look at a community of young black and brown girls and reveals how they express their freedom through figure skating, sisterhood, and community. Ngala has a deep connection to this story, not just through her lens, but also through her personal connection to the after-school program she participated in, “Figure Skating in Harlem”.

In this body of work which made the cover of New York Times in 2019, Ngala marries two of her most deeply felt passions; photography and figure skating. The series explores the practice, community, sisterhood, and success of this program.

While in conversation about this series, Ngala says, “Figure skating was my first love, and having access to the sport for over ten years through the program “Figure Skating in Harlem” literally changed my life. I found photography in high school, and becoming a professional photographer has allowed me the opportunity to couple these two loves together, a dream come true. Spending a few weeks at the end of 2018 with the young women of the program for this New York Times assignment left me with hundreds of timeless images and a priceless glimpse into the power of access, opportunity, and the power of sports. The body of work is extremely full circle. I feel blessed to be able to capture these women as an alum and image maker.” Harlem Ice creates palpable “powerful moments with people” through work that invites the viewer to think about the subjects in the realm of figure skating.