Urban
Bush Women celebrated its 20th anniversary season in 2004-05 with a program
that brought this most determined of dance troupes full circle. Highlights from
rep include:
Walking
with Pearl...Southern Diaries, the second dance inspired by African American
dance pioneer/social activist Pearl Primus, premiered at the American Dance
Festival on June 14, 2005. Writing in The Herald-Sun (Durham, NC), Susan Broili
noted, "The premiere ends with a body shout, a rhythmic foot-stomping and
body-slapping expression of undefeatable human spirit." This dance was
commissioned by ADF, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Maggie Allesee
National Center for Choreography (MANCC) at Florida State University.
Batty
Moves was made by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar in 1995. In the Caribbean, the word
“batty” is used to describe the buttocks. With a tone that is
both defiant and celebratory, Batty Moves directly challenges the audience
to question their own notions of physical attractiveness and appropriate movement.
Original percussion score by Junior Wedderburn.
Girlfriends
was made by Zollar in 1986 as a way to honor the camaraderie and bonds of friendship
shared with college girlfriends. Girlfriends captures intimate moments of joy,
sorrow, encouragement and outright silliness amongst those close friends you
can always depend on.
Project
Next Generation
UBW launched a bi-annual effort in 2004 to commission a new work by an emerging
female choreographer. Even as we honor the past and celebrate in the present,
this project is an investment in the future of contemporary dance and of Urban
Bush Women. The first award went to Bridget L. Moore for Sacred Vessel, featuring
a cast of 5 dancers. Urban Bush Women is currently touring Here We Go...Again!?
by Camille A. Brown, commissioned in 2006.
photo
credits: (from top) top photo: Lea Rudee; Walking With Pearl: courtesy
of Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival; Batty Moves: Bette Marshall; Girlfriends:
Cylla Von Tiedemann
