Sarah Bush Dance Project (SBDP) formed under the artistic vision of Sarah Bush in 2007 to promote innovative artistry, community interaction, and feminist ideals through the creation and presentation of multimedia dance. SBDP creates dance that reminds audiences of the power and compassion in ourselves and others, bolstering a resilient hope for humanity.
SBDP has created four critically acclaimed repertory shows in the Bay Area: Home, Rocked by Women, This Land, and Spirit & Bones. 2018’s Spirit & Bones was a SF Chronicle Datebook Dance Pick. The Huffington Post said of the outdoor landscape series, This Land, “the drama of Bush’s highly charged movement is meant to renew our sense of self, our sense of place and community.” The SF Bay Guardian reviewed Rocked by Women, a coming of age story honoring the history of women’s music, as “a weighty yet explosive expression of the power of an indomitable spirit and embracing courage.” A Homeward audience member reflected, “Homeward stirred memories and longings for relationship, for meaning, for home. Such a feast of choreography.” Most recently, of our sold-out Spirit & Bones premiere, the SF Chronicle said, "Dance makers want to reflect the zeitgeist in their productions. But every so often the planets align, and a long-planned work ends up tapping the cultural climate so aptly that it doubles as a rallying cry."
In addition to creating productions in the traditional theater setting, SBDP also has a full calendar of community performances and workshops. SBDP is currently a company in residence at the Berkeley Art Center, using interactive performances to facilitate art appreciation. In 2017, SBDP created, taught, and performed the Wonder Flashmob dance in honor of International Women’s Day and led two free, outdoor, all-ages This Land workshops through the East Bay Regional Parks District “Multicultural Wellness” Programs. In 2106 SBDP offered 3 different free outdoor site-specific This Land Oakland dance performances, as well as participating in and providing free performances or workshops for Dance Anywhere, Bay Area Dance Week, and Oakland Dance Festival. Plans for the upcoming year include producing a series of free-to-the-public performances of duets celebrating Oakland LGBT history. We will also be developing a new dance theater piece (inspired by Willa Cather’s writing) with director Becca Wolff for production in 2020.
