As the paradoxical name suggests, the New York City based dance troupe Urban Bush Women combines the spiritual elements of traditional African and Caribbean dance, song, and music with contemporary, Western dance forms. Artistic director Jawole Willa Jo Zollar describes UBW as "an ensemble dedicated to using cultural expression as a catalyst for social change."

Armed with an arsenal of cultural history, Urban Bush Women is not afraid to tackle issues of racism, sexism, or homophobia. Content equals form in the work of Urban Bush Women: they make dances about communities as a community. UBW often invites the audience to dance onstage after a performance, breaking the theatrical "fourth wall" that usually separates audiences from performers. Their sense of community extends into a larger arena in UBW's educational workshops, long-term residencies, community organizing, and leadership development which teach improvisation as a tool for educational reform and social change. The goal is to empower the disenfranchised through creativity and culture.