FirstWorks to Showcase Urban Bush Women's New Work in Dance Salute to Jazz Great John Coltrane

The FirstWorks Artistic Icon Series continues with "Walking with 'Trane," a new live music/dance event created by the electrifying, Brooklyn-based Urban Bush Women dance troupe in tribute to the life of legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane and his seminal jazz suite, "A Love Supreme." Urban Bush Women created the work to celebrate two important anniversaries-50 years since the revelatory "A Love Supreme" album and 30 years since the founding of Urban Bush Women. "Walking with 'Trane" premieres in Rhode Island on Saturday, February 27, 8 p.m. at The Vets in downtown Providence. Doors will open at 7 p.m. for JumpStart festivities in the venue lobbies. Tickets are on sale now at 401-421-ARTS (2787) and at first-works.org.

Urban Bush Women was founded by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar in 1984 when it burst onto the scene as the first major all-female African American dance company. Hailed as an "unstoppable force in American dance", Urban Bush Women's powerful moves shake theaters and inspire communities, as they showcase the energy, vitality and boldness of the African American community.

Set to a Coltrane-inspired score that features Grammy award winning pianist George Caldwell, "Walking with 'Trane" premiered in December at the prestigious Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival, where it was considered one of the most important works of the season. Informed by the unpredictability of the bandstand-the risky place that can take musicians into a transcendent state-this ethereal investigation fuses Urban Bush Women's inventive movement with Coltrane's evolutionary, post-bop spirit.

"FirstWorks is delighted to continue the Artistic Icons Series with a nod to two greats: Urban Bush Women and John Coltrane," said Kathleen Pletcher, Executive Artistic Director, FirstWorks. "The evening and 'Walking with 'Trane' promise to leave an indelible mark. We are thrilled to connect Rhode Island audiences with this company both in the theatre and in the community as part of a multi-month residency with Jawole Willa Jo Zollar and the Urban Bush Women."

Leading up to the mainstage performance, guests can get into the spirit of Urban Bush Women with a full month of events during their residency in Providence this February. Ranging from hands-on workshops to humanities panels, residency highlights will include "Dance for Every Body" workshops; a talk with Tommy DeFrantz and UBW Founder Jawole Willa Jo Zollar; and "How We Got To The Funk," a dance class and party led by Zollar that examines how black dance relates to historical events. For a full listing of the residency events please visit first-works.org/events/workshops-conversations.

Tickets for Urban Bush Women's "Walking with 'Trane" start at $38 and are available now online at first-works.org and at the Vets Box Office: 401-421-ARTS (2787).

Special offers include a $75 "Premium Experience" ticket, which includes the best seats plus complimentary admission to your choice of a morning-after Jazz Brunch with Urban Bush Women on Sunday, February 28, or their studio performance of "dark swan" at South Side Cultural Center on Wednesday, February 24.

Urban Bush Women's "Art Activating Community" is presented in partnership with Brown's American Dance Legacy Initiative and Rhythm of Change. This project was also made possible with grant funding by Dance/USA and Rhode Island Council for the Humanities.

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