UBW ARCHIVES
Community is our core.
Lineage is our legacy.
Embodied storytelling is our liberation.
At Urban Bush Women’s Archives, our mission is to preserve, celebrate, and promote the rich heritage of dance through the collection, documentation, and dissemination of historical and contemporary materials. We aim to provide a comprehensive resource for researchers, educators, artists, and enthusiasts, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the diverse traditions, innovations, and cultural significance of dance worldwide. Through our commitment to accessibility, collaboration, and innovation, we strive to inspire creativity, spark dialogue, and ensure the vitality of dance for generations to come.
THE URBAN BUSH WOMEN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
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COMING DECEMBER 2026
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THE URBAN BUSH WOMEN DIGITAL ARCHIVE | COMING DECEMBER 2026 |
40+ Years of Legacy: Urban Bush Women Archive Livestream
In celebration of Urban Bush Women’s impact for over four decades, this in-person symposium invites participants to activate and access the organization’s archive through reflection and community engagement. Panelists and participants include UBW Founding Artistic Director Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Interim Executive Director Michelle Dorant, UBW Archivist Camille Lawrence, and Archivist Zakiya Collier.
Thursday, April 23, 2026 — UBW Archivist Camille Lawrence hosted a webinar titled "Preserving Your Legacy: Artist Resources and Best Practices," encouraging creatives, choreographers, performance artists, and performance organizations to preserve all materials that highlight their legacies.
Thursday, May 7, 2026 — UBW Archivist Camille Lawrence and Director of Marketing and Communications Makeda Smith explore their journeys preserving more than 40 years of Black dance history. This webinar reflects a preservation practice that began four decades ago and shares the five-year initiative to recover, organize, and provide access to archival materials across multiple media formats.