Urban Bush Women, Dance, and Democracy

In this presidential election of super PAC influence and alleged voter disenfranchisement, it is not too far-fetched to question how democratic America’s political system really is. And not through T.V. pundits bloviating or academics splitting hairs. But through the performing arts. More specifically, through dance. With the purpose of engaging the community in exploring the role of civic participation in an electoral process and the challenges in keeping a democracy alive and vibrant, the Brooklyn-based Urban Bush Women (UBW) return to South Florida for a special event, a free performance on Saturday, Oct. 27, at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center (SMDCAC), of their project Are We Democracy? The evening caps a week-long residency held at the Kendall Campus of Miami Dade College (MDC), which joined forces with SMDCAC to present Are We Democracy?, labeled a unique experience for students and members of the South Miami-Dade area alike. “Urban Bush Women have actually been to Miami a number of times, including in our very first season, back in 1991,” says Kathryn García, Executive Director of MDC Live Arts, the MDC Cultural Affairs Department initiative formerly known as Cultura del Lobo. “We have a long history here at the college with them, but this is the first time that we are bringing the company purely for a residency experience,” continues García who, just like SMDCAC’s managing director Eric Fliss was interested in presenting Are We Democracy? They decided to collaborate and make it happen together.