". . . the Urban Bush Women are committed, triple-threat performers who dance, sing and act with a sometimes searing sense of truthfulness." - The New York Times
“Music and movements communicate the blues and triumph over it." - Durham Herald-Sun
Renowned for heart-stopping performances, brilliant choreography and for creating a genuine sense of community with its audience, Urban Bush Women marks its 30th Season with a return engagement to The Dance Center. Artistic Director Jawole Willa Jo Zollar has conceived of Walking with ‘Trane as a suite of dances based on the impact and legacy of jazz pioneer John Coltrane.Chapter 2 is inspired by Coltrane’s seminal work A Love Supreme, danced to an original, reimagined score composed and performed live by Grammy award-winning pianist George Caldwell. Guest choreographer Nora Chipaumire’s dark swan interrogates and subverts how we present and represent African female bodies. Zollar created Hep Hep Sweet Sweet as a personal memoir of her upbringing in Kansas City. Set in a fictional night club, the work draws upon the music and culture of the African American migration: south to north up the Mississippi River.