Get to know the members of Urban Bush Women! This month on our blog, we’ll be highlighting dancers, performers, and contributors who are part of the award-winning dance company’s Hair & Other Stories, which will have its New York Premiere at BRIC January 31-February 9.

First up is Chanon Judson-Johnson, Associate Artistic Director of Urban Bush Women. She started dancing at age 3 and has been with UBW since 2001.

What is your earliest movement memory?   

Dancing in the living room while my Dad played Earth, Wind & Fire, the Pointer Sisters, and the Gap Band.

What is your relationship to hair?

I do my own hair. It's another landscape for creation. I started wearing my hair in its natural state in high school. As I was growing into myself, my hair transformation was part of my inquiring, claiming, and celebrating.

What are you most excited about for this performance?

Spoiler Alert! I'm excited for the moments of embodied conversation with our audience.  We structured this work with a goal of drawing from our concert dance and our facilitation practice.  We'll be able to push that farther at BRIC!  I'm looking forward to the exchange.  

What do you hope the audience takes away from the show?

I hope the audience leaves with a desire for continued investigation of systemic oppression, and a consideration of liberation as an action that we can cull and continuously practice. 

Get your tickets today for the New York Premiere of Hair & Other Stories, JAN 31-FEB 9 at BRIC!