UBW Announces Executive Director Transition
Brooklyn, NY — Urban Bush Women announces that Executive Director Michele Kumi Baer will be stepping down from her role with UBW to take on a new leadership position in the arts and culture field. Her last day with the organization will be April 1, 2026.
Over this past year, Michele helped cultivate stability at UBW during a time of great change and transition in the dance field. Her efforts have led to adaptive fundraising strategies amidst federal funding cuts, a shared vision for a new artistic director model and founder succession plan, and a successful 2026 tour with a new cohort of UBW Company Members. We express our gratitude for Michele’s contributions to Urban Bush Women this past year and look forward to witnessing her continued leadership and dedication to the world of dance.
“I’m grateful to the staff, the dancers, and the board for the work we’ve done together, and the relationships we’ve cultivated over this past year,” says Michele. “Amidst great change and uncertainty throughout the arts ecosystem, we weathered a challenging economic climate with a deep commitment to the power of the work that Urban Bush Women brings to stages and communities. UBW changes lives, and I’m so proud to have contributed to the life-affirming and life-giving work we do across the country.”
Michelle Dorant
UBW Interim Executive Director
UBW’s Board of Directors has appointed Michelle Dorant as the organization’s Interim Executive Director. Michelle will lead the organization through its evolution into a legacy dance company, manifesting a post-founder artistic leadership model that both stewards Founder Jawole Willa Jo Zollar’s four decades of repertory and curates exciting new artistic work from the field. Michelle brings a deep knowledge of and commitment to the organization, as well as extensive experience with arts management and organizational development at this crucial time.
Board Chair Marjorie McFarlane-Lucas shares, “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to express our deep gratitude to Michele Kumi Baer for her visionary leadership during this pivotal year. She has strengthened UBW’s foundation, guided us through change with care, and positioned the organization for a bright future. At the same time, we are thrilled to welcome Michelle Dorant as our Interim Executive Director. Michelle’s deep knowledge of UBW, her experience as a former Company dancer, and her expertise in arts management make her uniquely equipped to lead the organization as we honor our legacy and embrace exciting new artistic possibilities.”
Dorant is joining the organization as Urban Bush Women prepares to return to Jacob’s Pillow this summer, hold its much-anticipated summer dance intensive in Brooklyn, and solidify plans for the next two seasons of performances and programming.
“One of my favorite quotes from Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler reminds me: ‘All that you touch, you change. All that you change, changes you. The only lasting truth is change. God is Change.’ It feels especially meaningful in this moment. Michelle Dorant and I are honored to help guide UBW through its next chapter, and we step into this work with care, openness, and a deep respect for all that has brought us here. We look forward to supporting this evolution together and helping shape a future of change that reflects our shared vision,” says Zollar.
Dorant adds, “I’m truly honored to step into this role at such a meaningful moment of transition for UBW. As both a former company member and board member, I deeply value the artistry, passion, and sense of community that make UBW so special. During this interim period, my focus will be on fostering stability, transparency, collaboration, and sustaining creative momentum while supporting our artists and staff. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to work with Jawole in helping to carry this work forward; and to stay connected to the audiences and our broader community who make it all possible.”
