Urban Bush Women and CONTRA-TIEMPO

Brooklyn, New York-based dance company Urban Bush Women(UBW) will perform the West Coast premiere of their newest work,Walking with ‘Trane, a nonlinear story-based dance inspired by the musical life and spiritual journey of John Coltrane, a composer at the forefront of jazz innovation in racially-charged, 1960s America. In this work, UBW explore the dynamics of Coltrane’s music through experimental movement and an original soundscape inspired by his musical legacy. The evening will begin with a performance by Los Angeles-based dance company CONTRA-TIEMPO of their new work She Who: Frida, Mami & Me, a piece choreographed by former UBW company member Marjani Forté and inspired by the narratives of Frida Kahlo, Chavela Vargas and the water spirit of the cultures of the African diaspora, Mami Wata.

About Urban Bush Women: UBW is a New York-based nonprofit dance company that was founded in 1984 by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. It is an ensemble of seven women who perform very diverse pieces choreographed by Jawole as well as many other reputable choreographers. UBW performances are dedicated to exploring the cultural influences of the African diaspora and are based on women’s experiences.

About CONTRA-TIEMPO: CONTRA-TIEMPO is a Los Angeles-based dance company that fuses the vocabulary of salsa, Afro-Cuban, hip-hop and contemporary dance with theater, text and original music to bring multi-modal experiences to the concert stage. In all of its work, the company uses an integrated engagement process with audience, community and artists to inform its creative process.

Part of the Ford Signature Series, which is made possible through the generous support of Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. Original program created with support from former Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. Proceeds from the Signature Series benefit the Ford Theatre Foundation, which supports programs at the Ford Theatres in Hollywood and throughout Los Angeles County.