The Lewiston Tribune: UBW as Storytellers on stage

Urban Bush Women dance company performances among Terry Buffington Foundation events on the Palouse next week.

By Emily Pearce | The Lewiston Tribune

Shelter (1998) - Photo by Stephen Cohen Photography

“Movement becomes a message for the Urban Bush Women dance company when cultural knowledge, lived experience and modern-day struggle are intertwined with purposeful expression.”

The Brooklyn-based ensemble with roots in social activism debuts a performance titled “THIS IS RISK” on Feb. 13 at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre in Moscow. The production is part of a five-day program that starts Tuesday, organized by the Pullman-based Terry Buffington Foundation.

The series includes a Tuesday dance workshop and a panel discussion Wednesday, both at Washington State University. The foundation’s third annual Southwestern Dinner Fundraiser is Feb. 14 at the Pullman Courtyard Marriott.

Cultural anthropologist and social activist Terry Buffington said bringing world-class artists to the Palouse advances her nonprofit organization’s mission by “bridging the gap” with cultural experiences the region might not otherwise have access to.

Buffington co-created the foundation with her son, Kwasi Buffington, in 2022, intending to highlight Black experiences that are part of U.S. history, foster engagement with grassroots activism and provide enrichment through performances and events.