Kyle Abraham facts for kids

Kyle Abraham (born August 14, 1977) is an American choreographer and dancer. He is famous for creating exciting and thoughtful dance pieces. In 2006, he started his own dance company in New York City, called A.I.M by Kyle Abraham. His company has created many original works, like The Radio Show (2010) and An Untitled Love (2021). Kyle also creates dances for other big companies, such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the New York City Ballet.

Kyle Abraham's Early Life and Dance Journey

Kyle Abraham was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1977. He started dancing when he was very young. He trained at the Civic Light Opera Academy and the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School. Later, he moved to New York to continue his dance education. He earned degrees from SUNY Purchase and NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He even 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: His Dance Company

In 2006, Kyle Abraham started his own dance company, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham. The company's goal is to create dance works inspired by Black culture and history. Kyle often uses his own experiences to create dances for A.I.M. His works explore themes of Black life, emotions, 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 Joyce Theater in New York. They have also performed at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and in Kyle's hometown of Pittsburgh. Internationally, they have performed in Paris, London, and Japan.

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 explores identity and personal history. It tells an abstract story about losing communication. It also looks at how a radio station closing affects a community. The dance uses a mix of classic soul, hip-hop, and classical music.

Other important works for A.I.M include Pavement and Drive. Pavement premiered in 2012 and was inspired by the film Boyz n the Hood. It uses music from Bach to Sam Cooke to show themes of violence, love, and pain. Critics praised Pavement for its powerful message. Drive (2017) is another popular piece. It is often performed during the company's tours.

In 2018, Kyle performed his first full-length solo dance in nearly ten years, called INDY. This dance featured original music and visual art. In 2019, he created Studies On A Farewell. This gentle work features nine dancers and classical music. In 2021, Kyle created An Untitled Love. This dance celebrates self-love and Black love. It uses music by the R&B artist D'Angelo. He also created Requiem: Fire in the Air of the Earth in 2021. This piece explores death and rebirth with music by Jlin.

Dances for Other Companies

Kyle Abraham has also created dances for many other famous dance 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 said Kyle brought a fresh, modern style to the company.

In 2018, Kyle choreographed The Runaway for the New York City Ballet. The New York Times called it one of the "Best Dance of 2018." In 2019, he created Ash for American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Misty Copeland. He also choreographed Only The Lonely for the Paul Taylor Dance Company. In 2021, Kyle created When We Fell, his third piece for the New York City Ballet. He also created Optional Family, a divertissement and The Weathering for The Royal Ballet in London.

Awards and Special Recognition

Kyle Abraham has received many awards for his amazing dance work. In 2009, Dance Magazine named him one of their "25 to Watch." They described him as having "equal parts power and grace." In 2010, he won a Bessie Award for The Radio Show. He also received a Princess Grace Award for Choreography.

In 2012, Kyle won the Jacob's Pillow Dance Award. In 2013, he received a very special MacArthur Fellowship. This award is sometimes called a "genius grant." In 2015, he became the Choreographer in Residence at New York City Center. In 2016, he won the Doris Duke Performing Artist Award. His hometown of Pittsburgh even declared November 10 "Kyle Abraham Day" in 2017! In 2018, he received the Princess Grace Statue Award. In 2022, he was chosen as one of the Kennedy Center's Next 50 Cultural Leaders. This honor celebrates people who lead the way through art and action.