Urban Bush Women is celebrating 30 years as an unstoppable force in American dance. Jawole Willa Jo Zollar’s troupe started out with “raw power and conviction” (Village Voice), and it continues to make visceral, politically-charged work, including the two new pieces they dance at Duke Performances.

The culmination of a two-week residency at Duke, their program begins with Hep Hep Sweet Sweet, an earthy and provocative new take on the music and culture fueled by the Great Migration that emerged at jazz clubs in Harlem and Zollar’s native Kansas City. They follow that with Dark Swan, choreographed by former UBW dancer Nora Chipaumire, which reimagines the classic European ballet in a modern African context. To close the program, they offer the world premiere of Walking with ‘Trane, a piece inspired by the life of John Coltrane and by his seminal jazz suite A Love Supreme, with live music by pianist George Caldwell.

Hep Hep Sweet Sweet (choreographed by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar)
Dark Swan (choreographed by nora chipaumire)
Walking with ‘Trane (choreographed by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar & Samantha Speis)