Urban Bush Women

Urban Bush Women (UBW), founded in 1984 by choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, is a Brooklyn-based performance ensemble and dance company under the artistic direction of Chanon Judson and Samantha Speis.

UBW seeks to bring the untold and under-told histories and stories to light through dance. They do this from a woman-centered perspective and as members of the African Diaspora community in order to create a more equitable balance of power in the dance world and beyond.

Over the next two years Urban Bush Women will engage with The Yard to develop a site specific version of their work, Haint Blu on Martha’s Vineyard. This year their residency will focus on community engagement. Haint Blu is an ensemble dance-theater work steeped in memory and magic. Known as the color that Southern families paint their front porches to ward off bad spirits, Haint Blu uses performance as a center and source of healing, taking us through movement into stillness and rest. tt is an embodied look into familial lines and the movements, histories, and stories of our elders and ancestors. It reflects on what has been lost across generations and what can be recovered. Haint Blu takes us to the magical place where spirits share their legacies, journey onward, and leave the thick residue of their knowing behind. Haint Blu is inspired by SCAT!, Urban Bush Women’s musical theater work in development. 

Urban Bush Women Events

Workshop Mindful Bodies and Reflective Practice: June 22nd, 10 am | The Yard

This participatory workshop focuses on self-care, rejuvenation, and (re-) constructing healthful images of ourselves and our communities. As we move, share stories, and discuss holism practices from food choices to daily stress relief, Urban Bush Women BOLD Facilitators (Builders, Organizers, and Leaders through Dance) offer simple tools for re-inhabiting our bodies and reinforcing holism from the inside out. We also bring out and affirm the wisdom that is already in the group, fostering resource exchange and building community. The goal is to bring ourselves to balance, thereby bringing our families and communities to balance as well. No dance or fitness experience is necessary... just a body and a willingness to exhale!

It is Urban Bush Women Policy that all workshop attendees prove full Covid-19 vaccination (2 shots) with their Covid-19 Vaccination cards upon sign in for class.

Please visit our Covid-19 policy page to see full workshop/class Covid-19 policy.

Pop-Up Performance: June 23rd, 5:30 -7pm| Featherstone Center for the Arts, 30 Featherstone Ln, Oak Bluffs, MA

A short movement presentation that connects past and current work, and artist themes on display at Featherstone. Designed to bring together community and artist partners together. Refreshments provided in part by Morning Glory Farm.

This is now a free event. Space is limited. Registration required. If you have already purchased tickets, consider yourself registered! We’ll be in touch shortly to refund your payment.

Truth & Joy Presentation: Jun 24th, 5:30 pm | Oak Bluffs Campground

Truth & Joy is a free 2-day event that offers islanders and visitors an opportunity to learn island racial history. Organized by the Martha’s Vineyard Diversity Coalition.

Artistic Director, Chanon Judson, will offer a short performance of "Give Your Hands to the Struggle".

"Urban Bush Women’s classic repertory work Give Your Hands to Struggle (choreographed by Founder Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, with music by Bernice Johnson Reagon) is a tribute to civil rights leaders whose work contributed to a better future for all of us. The title is based on a speech by Adam Clayton Powell “What’s In Your Hands.”

In-Progress Showing: July 1st, 6:00 -7pm | Orange Peel Bakery, 22 State Rd, Aquinnah, MA

Urban Bush Women is engaging with The Yard and Vineyard partners to develop a site specific version of their work, Haint Blu. This is as in-progress showing of that work. Haint Blu is an ensemble dance-theater work steeped in memory and magic. Known as the color that Southern families paint their front porches to ward off bad spirits, Haint Blu uses performance as a center and source of healing, taking us through movement into stillness and rest.

This is now a free event. Space is limited. Registration required. If you have already purchased tickets, consider yourself registered! We’ll be in touch shortly to refund your payment.

If planning to attend a performance or class please review our Covid and Box Office policies.

For more please visit

Website: www.urbanbushwomen.org
Instagram: @ubwdance
Facebook: /urbanbushwomen
Twitter: @ubwdance

Haint Blu is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund Project co-commissioned by The Yard, Live Arts Miami, the Hopkins Center for the Arts, and Williams College. The Creation Fund is supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency). For more information: www.npnweb.org

Initial Haint Blu creative community partners include Live Arts Miami and Miami Dade College in partnership with Hampton House, New Orleans Coalition including Junebug Productions, Ashe Center and the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center, Berkshires Coalition including MASS MoCA, Jacob's Pillow, and Williams College Dance Department, The Yard and the Community of Martha's Vineyard. Haint Blu has also received commissioning support from Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth, NPN Creation Fund, LMCC's Residency Program, Arts & Culture on Governors Island, and Lumberyard's Technical Rehearsal Program

Funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.