Urban Bush Women

March 2 & 3, 2007, 8:30 p.m.
Jarson-Kaplan Theater, Aronoff Center for the Arts

 "a repertory of heart wrenching, soul-searching works that communicate the ecstasy and agony of the human condition."  Dance Magazine

Founded in 1984 by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Urban Bush Women is an all-female performance ensemble that uses cultural expression as a catalyst for social change. UBW weaves contemporary dance, music and storytelling with the history, culture and spiritual traditions of African Americans, exploring the transformation of struggle and suffering into the bittersweet joy of survival. Infusing equal parts compassion, humor, muscle, and grace, Zollar's works have probed controversial topics and evocative stories--from black women's concepts of beauty and self-esteem to civil rights in the rural South, homelessness on the streets of New York, and myths of gender and race.

Photo by Antoine Tempe 

For their Cincinnati performance, the acclaimed company will present hallmarks of the company’s repertoire, such as the raucous "Batty Moves" (1995), an homage to female buttocks, as well as new work by Zollar and emerging choreographer Camille A. Brown, recipient of the company's Project Next Generation. A new work by Zollar, "Walking with Pearl—Africa Diaries," is a touching and lyrical dance that honors African American dance pioneer and social activist Pearl Primus.

UBW will also present a revival of Blondell Cummings’ solo, "Chicken Soup" (1981), a portrait of a lifetime of domesticity set to music by Brian Eno, Meredith Monk, and Colin Walcott, text by Grace Paley and Pat Stein; and a recipe from "The Settlement Cookbook." This 12-minute solo will be restaged by Cummings, working with Urban Bush Women to illuminate the political, social, and personal issues that surrounded the creation of the work. The highly theatrical Cummings was one of the first artists to integrate film into her choreographic explorations.

Jawole Willa Jo Zollar

Zollar, who will be in Cincinnati for the performance says, "When I began Urban Bush Women in 1984, I envisioned a company founded on the energy, vitality and boldness of the African-American community that I grew up in. I wanted a company that brought forth the vulnerability, sassiness and bodaciousness of the women I experienced growing up in Kansas City. My goal was to use those experiences as a vehicle for my choreographic voice...UBW has grown to be that and more. We have inspired many and left an indelible mark on the dance field. We have changed perceptions about body types and approaches to performance in both form and content. Driven by our passion for dance, we have shown how choreographers can address socio-political issues in their work and involve whole communities in art-making."