FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Makeda Smith
UBW Marketing Manager
msmith@urbanbushwomen.org
(718) 398-4537
UBW ANNOUNCES 2023 APPRENTICES AS PART THE NEW YORK COMMUNITY TRUST VAN LIER FELLOWSHIP
Brooklyn, NY — March 22, 2023 — With support from The New York Community Trust (NYCT) Van Lier Fellowship program, Urban Bush Women (UBW) is thrilled to continue to provide one-year dance apprenticeships to Black women+. UBW Apprenticeship Program includes a wide range of activities, benefits, and rigorous evaluation to support each artist’s development.
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“I have been truly enjoying getting to know each of these artists and witnessing the unique and individual brilliance they each bring into the room. The apprenticeship program encourages the artists to also develop, deepen, and integrate their own creative practice in this learning experience and carry that forward.”
— Courtney J. Cook
Urban Bush Women Associate Artistic Director
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Photographed from left to right: Keola Jones, Kashia Kancey, Makeda-Lily Love-Roney, and J’nae Simmons
UBW is thrilled to introduce the 2023 NYCT Van Lier Fellows:
Keola Jones
Kashia Kancey
Makeda-Lily Love-Roney
J’nae Simmons
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“What’s really exciting about this apprenticeship program is being able to continue to deepen the relationships with artists who are curious about delving into, honing into, and growing their practice and artistic lens. The apprenticeship program isn’t something that's new to Urban Bush Women. We've been inviting artists into the space that supports and enables them to nurture themselves, their curiosity, discomfort, and find what challenges them being inside of the investigative, exploratory container to take risks and play. It’s important and we are so grateful to have the funding to support the artists to do the work for themselves.”
— Mame Diarra Speis
Urban Bush Women Co-Artistic Director
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The New York Community Trust Van Lier Fellows will receive a stipend for their participation, one-on-one coaching, and performance assessments, and opportunities to participate in company rehearsals, classes, training, and lectures to enhance their creative and community-building practices. To gain exposure to varying genres and styles, the fellows will receive complimentary tickets to local dance and theater performances In addition, UBW will engage the participants in performance opportunities, including one informal studio showcase and local company performances, when feasible.