A Community of Memory — On Scat!… The Complex Lives of Al & Dot, Dot & Al Zollar with Jawole Willa Jo Zollar

Today we're joined by the esteemed and incredible Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, Jawole earned her B.A. in dance from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and her M.F.A. in dance from Florida State University. In 1980 Jawole moved to New York City to study with Dianne McIntyre at Sounds in Motion, and in 1984 Jawole founded Urban Bush Women (UBW) as a performance ensemble dedicated to exploring the use of cultural expression as a catalyst for social change. In this conversation, we discuss Scat!… The Complex Lives of Al & Dot, Dot & Al Zollar which we saw at the Mark Taber Forum. We've both seen Urban Bush Women live previously, but this performance was distinctly magical. Together we explore the choreographic and creative process of developing such a collaborative work, the process of creating a deeply personal piece inspired by her parents, and why Jawole made the choice to be onstage herself. We also unpack the nuances of what it means to be an interdisciplinary artists and why it may be time to reimagine what that looks like. Resources Learn more about Scat!… The Complex Lives of Al & Dot, Dot & Al Zollar Learn more about Jawole Willa Zollar Learn more about Urban Bush Women