The Apollo celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Black women-led theatrical dance company and social activism ensemble, Urban Bush Women with a stunning visual exhibition in the Laura and Frank Baker Gallery. With special pop-up performances on select dates, Legacy, Lineage and Liberation: An Examination of Urban Bush Women’s Art-Making and Community Organizing Praxis contains rare photographs, performance footage, manuscripts, costumes and memorabilia from the groundbreaking ensemble’s 40-year history.
CREDITS
Lead Curators
Chanon Judson, Co-Artistic Director
Mame Diarra Speis, Co-Artistic Director
Curatorial Team
Jonathan D. Secor, Producer
Laura Stewart, Curatorial Consultant
Pia Monique Murray, Associate Producer
Burkindy, Visual Artist
Vince Ballantine, Visual Artist
Eddie Ballard, Installer
Jean Barberis, Lead Installer
Lizzy Cooper Davis, Scholar/Writer
Andrew Gordon, Installer
Nick Hussong, Video Compilation & Projection Design
Teya Juarez, SUNY Buffalo Research Assistant
Camille Lawrence, UBW Archivist
Nina Angela Mercer, Scholar/Writer
Makeda Smith, Marketing Director
Presented in Partnership with Urban Bush Women
ABOUT URBAN BUSH WOMEN:
Urban Bush Women is a groundbreaking Black women-led theatrical dance company and social activism ensemble, founded in 1984 by visionary choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar as an engine and an amplifier for the unheard stories of Black Women+. Today, under the artistic leadership of Chanon Judson and Mame Diarra Speis, UBW combines revolutionary performance, deep-healing community engagement, and ancestral knowledge from the African diaspora into a cultural force that is urgent, forward-looking, and essential.
UBW embraces the power of radical storytelling to activate social change. Whether creating genre-defying work for the stage, guiding the development of Black Women+ choreographers and producers, organizing for justice through art-making, or inspiring leaders across generations, UBW is an innovator, operating at the vanguard.
Urban Bush Women 40th Anniversary leadership funding is provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Additional funding is provided by the Howard Gilman Foundation.
Legacy, Lineage, and Liberation: An Examination of Urban Bush Women’s Art-Making and Community Organizing Praxis was made possible with additional support from the University at Buffalo.
Lyricist Lounge returns to the legendary Apollo stage to bring Hip-Hop front and center. Don’t miss Ghostface Killah featuring Cappadonna, Inspectah Deck and more to be announced. Join us for this one-night-only event.
The Apollo is hosting a Renovation Career Fair to connect Harlem residents with renovation careers, training, and certification programs; no previous certifications required. In addition to exploring available renovation job opportunities, our Career Fair will build a database of candidates for workforce training and future Apollo and community projects. The Career Fair will feature renovation subcontractors, and community organizations to support workforce re-entry and skills programs.
Known as one of New York’s most popular live entertainment experiences, Amateur Night at The Apollo attracts performers and audiences from around the world in a classic talent competition that has launched the careers of countless legendary artists, from Ella Fitzgerald, Luther Vandross, Lauryn Hill, H.E.R, Machine Gun Kelly, Jazmine Sullivan and more.
Join the fun with the weekly classic competition that sheds light on the careers of a whole new roster of stars. Be a part of the notoriously “tough” audience in an interactive evening unlike any other and lend your voice to decide who will “Be Good or Be Gone!” to win the triumphant grand prize.
Amateur Night at The Apollo sponsored by Coca-Cola, is hosted by the comedian Capone. Each show begins with a festive pre-party featuring video and music by DJ Jess and Set It Off Man Greginald Spencer. Keep a lookout for C.P. Lacey, the resident Executioner who sweeps bad talent off the stage!
Presented in partnership with Bob Sumner (producer of Def Comedy Jam, creator of Laff Mobb on Aspire), the Apollo Comedy Club celebrates these rich comedic roots with an evening of comedy on the Apollo’s Stages at the Victoria to serve as a late-night hotspot featuring the best emerging talent in comedy today.
The Apollo has a long history of launching the careers of countless legendary artists and performers in a variety of genres, including comedy. Comedic legends Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, Monique, Jamie Foxx and Jackie Mabley (a.k.a. Moms) have all delighted audiences from the Apollo stage.
The PitchBLACK Awards Ceremony is Black Public Media’s signature celebration honoring visionary media makers dedicated to telling stories about the global Black experience. Heralded as an event where industry leaders discover new talent, PitchBLACK also features inspiring content, special guest appearances, and the presentation of funding awards to winning creators.
This year, Black Public Media continues its tradition of celebrating excellence with a special tribute to the 2025 BPM Trailblazer, Lillian E. Benson, an Emmy-nominated and Peabody award-winning editor and the first woman of African American descent invited to join American Cinema Editors (ACE). The evening opens with a networking reception, transitions to the awards ceremony, and culminates in a lively afterparty.
Join us at the Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theater on Thursday, May 1, to celebrate PitchBLACK’s move to Harlem and witness the magic! Purchase your Tickets for the 2025 PitchBLACK Awards!
The Amours sing the language of love. Sisters Jakiya Ayanna and Shaina Aisha use their powerhouse vocals to deliver a soulful night of R&B at the Apollo Music Cafe.
Drummer, pianist and composer Julius Rodriguez (Orange Julius) travels all lanes of jazz. This multi-instrumentalist has electrified the genre and redefined a sound that is solely his alone. Be in the room to see Julius and his friends celebrate and close-out the Apollo Music Café season.
NYUGALA2025– A Journey to the West is a variety show inspired by the classic Chinese novel, Journey to the West, and reimagined through the experiences of young Chinese students in New York City. The gala explores self-discovery and growth within a cross-cultural context.
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ABOUT
A Legacy of Culture
The Apollo is an American cultural treasure. It is a vibrant non-profit organization rooted in the Harlem community that engages people from around New York, the nation, and the world. Since 1934, The Apollo has celebrated, created, and presented work that centers Black artists and voices from across the African Diaspora. It has also been a catalyst for social and civic advocacy. Today, The Apollo is the largest performing arts institution committed to Black culture and creativity.
The Apollo is a commissioner and presenter; catalyst for new artists, audiences, and creative workforce; and partner in the projection of the African American narrative and its role in the development of American and global culture.
The Apollo envisions a new American canon centered on contributions to the performing arts by artists of the African diaspora, in America and beyond.
The Apollo is led by a predominantly Black and women-led executive team, steered by Michelle Ebanks, the organization’s President and CEO. She succeeded Jonelle Procope, who helmed The Apollo for nearly two decades.
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