As a Performing Arts enthusiast, I feel incredibly privileged to have not only attended the Urban Bush Women’s performance at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts but also to have the honor to write a review about it on Performing Denver and be invited to several additional events they were present in during their stay, such as a discussion on the role of dance for Culture Diplomacy.
The performance itself was a thrilling experience, with fast movements accompanied by drums, quotes, chorus lines and one guitar in some of the scenes. What made the performance even more special was the fact that it was a pivotal moment for the Urban Bush Women, as they have been existing for 40 years. This was something that Chanon Judson, the creative director of Urban Bush Women, highlighted during a panel discussion with SIE Center director Marie Berry and Aisha Ahmad-Post, Newman Center Director, on the topic of “Storytelling, Women’s Leadership, & Social Change Through Dance.”
The performance program, “Legacy + Lineage + Liberation,” is centered around justice and equity, and the stories brought on stage challenged the audience to take new views and look at topics from a perspective that is highly underrepresented in the public debates.
Overall, my experience with the Urban Bush Women was incredibly enriching, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have witnessed their artistry and activism firsthand. Their work is a powerful reminder of the role that dance and storytelling can play in promoting social change and challenging the status quo.
You can read my full review of the Urban Bush Women’s performance on Performing Denver: https://presentingdenver.org/urban-bush-women/