Kyle Abraham
Claude and Alfred Mann Endowed Professor of Dance
Composition, Contemporary, Repertory
Kyle Abraham | Photo by Carrie Schneider
Kyle Abraham joins the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance in fall 2021 as the new Claude and Alfred Mann Endowed Professor of Dance. In addition to Abraham joining the USC Kaufman faculty, up to 10 members of his dance company, A.I.M., will teach a week-long intensive every December at USC Kaufman for BFA students, as well as professional and pre-professional dancers.
Kyle Abraham is a 2018 Princess Grace Statue Award Recipient, 2017-18 Joyce Creative Residency Artist and 2016 Doris Duke Award Recipient. He is also a 2015 City Center Choreographer in Residence and a 2013 MacArthur Fellow. His dance training began at the Civic Light Opera Academy and the Creative and Performing Arts High School in Pittsburgh, Pa.
He continued his dance studies in New York, receiving a BFA from SUNY Purchase and an MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Abraham also received an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from Washington Jefferson College. He most recently served as a visiting professor in residence at the University of California, Los Angeles. Abraham is the founding Artistic Director of A.I.M, an American contemporary dance company, created in honor of his history, experiences and artistic interests.
In November 2012, Abraham was named the New York Live Arts Resident Commissioned Artist for 2012-2014. One month later, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater premiered Abraham’s Another Night at New York City Center. That same year, Abraham was named the 2012 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award recipient and 2012 USA Ford Fellow. In 2013, he served as a choreographic contributor for Beyonce’s British Vogue cover shoot.
Abraham received a Bessie Award for Outstanding Performance in Dance for his work in The Radio Show, and a Princess Grace Award for Choreography in 2010. He was selected as one of Dance Magazine’s “25 To Watch” for 2009, and received a Jerome Travel and Study Grant in 2008.
In addition to performing and developing new works for his company, A.I.M, Abraham has been commissioned by a variety of dance companies. Most recently, Abraham collaborated with New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Taylor Stanley on Ces noms que nous portons, a Lincoln Center and NYCB commissioned solo. He also choreographed the music video for Sufjan Stevens’ Sugar. He premiered to be seen, a new solo for American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Calvin Royal III, for the 2020 virtual Fall For Dance Festival.
In fall 2019, he choreographed Ash, a solo work for American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Misty Copeland; Only The Lonely, a newly commissioned work for Paul Taylor American Modern Dance; and The Bystander, a new commission for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago to rave reviews. Abraham premiered the Bessie-nominated The Runaway for New York City Ballet’s 2018 Fall Fashion Gala. It was recognized as one of the “Best Dance of 2018” by The New York Times.
In 2016, Abraham premiered in Untitled America, a three-part commissioned work for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He toured The Serpent and The Smoke, a pas de deux for himself and acclaimed Bessie Award-winning and former New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Wendy Whelan as part of Restless Creature. He also choreographed for the feature-length film, The Book of Henry, for acclaimed director Colin Trevorrow.
His choreography has been presented at New York City Center, Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music and The Joyce Theater. In addition, his work has been presented at The Los Angeles Music Center, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and Théâtre de la Ville. Other presenting organizations include Sadler’s Wells, Maison de la Danse, Tanz Im August, On The Boards, Danspace Project, Dance Theater Workshop, Bates Dance Festival, Harlem Stage, Dublin’s Project Arts Center, The Andy Warhol Museum and The Byham and The Kelly-Strayhorn Theater. His work has also been presented in Montreal, Ottawa, Italy, Germany, Sweden, France, Jordan, Ecuador and The Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum in Japan.
