Urban Bush Women in Rhode Island

Co-presented by FirstWorks and The Providence Athenaeum with Brandeis University Assistant Professor of African and Afro- American Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Jasmine Johnson.

A jam dance workshop with Urban Bush Women celebrating “every body” and the diversity that attributes to a unique and powerful community. No prior experience required! At Brown University Ashamu Dance Studio. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Dedicated time with the artists provided for K-12 teachers at this jam dance workshop with Urban Bush Women celebrating “every body” and the diversity that attributes to a unique and powerful community. No prior experience required! At Brown University Ashamu Dance Studio. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

A workshop on falling, rolling, stillness, connecting through focus, counterbalance, lifting using minimal effort, centering and integration of breath, and being attentive to our partner(s) and surroundings, with Urban Bush Women’s Founder, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar and dancers from the company. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

A 90-minute interactive dance party “soundscape through time” with Urban Bush Women’s Founder, Jawole Willla Jo Zollar. At Aurora. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

On 2/27, FirstWorks will present Urban Bush Women performing Walking With ‘Trane, a work emblematic of UBW’s practice of weaving contemporary dance, music, and text with the history, culture, and spiritual traditions of African Americans and the African Diaspora. Join us for a discussion of the history and role of jazz in RI. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

A social evening of food, conversation and local performance capped by a studio performance by Urban Bush Woman in Nora Chipaumire’s dark swan- TICKETS REQUIRED

A jam dance workshop with Urban Bush Women celebrating “every body” and the diversity that attributes to a unique and powerful community. No prior experience required! At Brown University Ashamu Dance Studio. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Jawole Willa Jo Zollar and Thomas F. DeFrantz discuss Walking with ‘Trane, Black Dance in its varied contemporary manifestations, Black Lives Matter, and the long histories of dance in African American social justice advocacy. At RISD Auditorium – FREE

A towering jazz masterpiece comes alive onstage with unbridled energy, innovative choreography and live music. TICKETS REQUIRED

Join us and members of Urban Bush Women as we wrap up their FirstWorks residency with a specialty brunch menu created by the culinary team at the Dorrance. Enjoy a mouth-watering buffet, relaxed conversation & soul-nourishing live jazz performed by Rhode Island’s own Travis Colby Band. ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED.

The festival partners with FirstWorks, Rites and Reason Theatre, Urban Bush Women, Troupe Yeredon, Dr. Thomas DeFrantz and artists from Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and NYC to engage with students and the larger community in ceremony, performances, discussions, and workshops. TICKETS REQUIRED

American Dance Legacy Initiative invites all to participate in their annual Mini-Fest. Designed to build connections within the dance field and between the field and the general public, the event includes dance classes, workshops, presentations, performances, exhibits, and discussions.

A day of workshops, community classes, discussion, design, lecture/demonstration, and art installations. In its fourth year, the ASaP Symposium explores holistic, artistic interventions for diverse populations. This year’s focus is on the power of design and the implementation of arts programming in the medical field. FREE REGISTRATION