Kyle Abraham facts for kids

Kyle Abraham (born August 14, 1977) is an American choreographer and dancer. He is known for creating powerful and thoughtful dance pieces. In 2006, he started his own dance company in New York City, called A.I.M by Kyle Abraham.

Kyle Abraham has created many original dances for his company, including The Radio Show (2010), Pavement (2012), and An Untitled Love (2021). He has also been asked to create new dances for famous companies like the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the New York City Ballet.

Early Life and Dance Journey

Kyle Abraham was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1977. He started dancing when he was young. He studied at the Civic Light Opera Academy and the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School.

He continued his dance education in New York. He earned a special degree from SUNY Purchase and a master's degree from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He also received an honorary doctorate from Washington & Jefferson College. After finishing his studies, Kyle danced with several well-known dance companies. These included the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and Dance Alloy.

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham

In 2006, Kyle Abraham started his own dance company, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham. The company's goal is to create dances that are inspired by Black culture and history. Kyle often uses his own experiences to create dances for his company. His works often explore themes about Black life, feelings, and how visual art, music, and dance connect.

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham has performed all over the United States and in other countries. They have danced at famous places like Lincoln Center and the Brooklyn Academy of Music in the U.S. They have also performed in cities like Paris, London, and Dublin.

Amazing Dance Works and Achievements

Dances for A.I.M by Kyle Abraham

Kyle Abraham's first dance for A.I.M was Fading into Something Tangible in 2006. In 2010, he created The Radio Show. This piece explored identity and personal history. It told an abstract story about losing communication. It also looked at how Alzheimer's and aphasia affect families. The music for The Radio Show mixed classic soul and hip-hop with modern classical songs.

Another important work is Pavement, which premiered in 2012. This dance was inspired by the 1991 film Boyz n the Hood. It used a variety of music, from Bach to Sam Cooke. Pavement showed themes of violence, love, and pain. It followed a group of friends trying to stay together as their community faced challenges. Critics praised this piece, with one saying it was "a hard, unforgiving thing, but for some people it's also home."

In 2017, Abraham choreographed Drive with his company. This dance is often performed during A.I.M's tours. In 2018, he created Show Pony, a solo dance. It showed the pressures of being on display and having to perform.

INDY (2018) was a full-length solo dance performed by Kyle Abraham himself. It was his first solo work in almost ten years. In 2019, he created another solo called Cocoon. This piece blended modern dance with hip-hop and street dance styles.

Studies On A Farewell (2019) was a gentle dance featuring nine dancers. It was set to classical music. In 2021, Abraham created An Untitled Love. This dance was inspired by the music of R&B artist D'Angelo. It celebrated self-love and Black love, and felt like a mixtape honoring culture, family, and community.

Also in 2021, Abraham worked with artist Jlin to create Requiem: Fire in the Air of the Earth. This piece explored themes of death and rebirth. It was a new take on Mozart's Requiem in D minor.

Dances for Other Companies

Kyle Abraham has also created dances for many other famous companies. These include the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Ballet, and The Royal Ballet. His piece Another Night for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater premiered in 2012. Critics noted how Kyle brought a fresh, modern style to the company.

In 2013, Kyle worked with New York City Ballet dancer Wendy Whelan on a duet called The Serpent and the Smoke. He also choreographed for film, including the 2017 movie The Book of Henry.

In 2018, his ballet The Runaway for the New York City Ballet was named one of the "Best Dance of 2018" by The New York Times. In 2019, he choreographed Ash for American Ballet Theatre dancer Misty Copeland. He also created Only The Lonely for the Paul Taylor Dance Company and The Bystander for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

More recently, in 2021, Kyle Abraham created When We Fell for the New York City Ballet. He also received two commissions from The Royal Ballet in London. Optional Family, a divertissement premiered in 2021, and The Weathering, a full ballet, premiered in 2022.

In 2022, Abraham returned to New York City Ballet with Love Letter (on shuffle). This new work was set to the music of James Blake. It has been performed many times by the company in 2023 and 2024. For American Ballet Theatre's Fall 2024 season, he premiered Mercurial Son.

Awards and Recognition

Kyle Abraham has received many awards for his amazing work. In 2009, Dance Magazine called him one of their "25 to Watch," describing him as "equal parts power and grace." In 2010, he won a Bessie Award for The Radio Show and a Princess Grace Award for his choreography.

In 2012, he received the Jacob's Pillow Dance Award. In 2013, he was given a very special MacArthur Fellowship, sometimes called a "genius grant." In 2014, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Washington & Jefferson College.

His hometown of Pittsburgh even declared November 10 as "Kyle Abraham Day" in 2017 to honor him. In 2018, he won a Princess Grace Statue Award. The New York Times praised his work for the New York City Ballet, noting his skill in mixing ballet with other styles like hip-hop. In 2020, he became the first-ever Guest Editor for Dance Magazine. In 2022, he was named one of the Kennedy Center's Next 50 Cultural Leaders, celebrating his impact through art.