Drawing from the catalogue of Grammy Award-winning R&B legend D’Angelo, this creative exaltation depicts Black life and love in the USA while serving as a thumping mixtape celebrating culture, family and community. The dancers create an unforgettable party, inviting the audience to view stories of love, solidarity and friendship told with Kyle Abraham’s trademark poetic clarity.

About the contender:

Kyle Abraham (Artistic Director, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham) and his choreography have been featured in Document Journal, Ebony, Harper’s Bazaar, Kinfolk, O Magazine, Vogue, and Vogue UK, amongst other publications. Abraham is the proud recipient of the Dancespace Project Gala Honoree (2024), Dance Magazine Award (2022), Princess Grace Statue Award (2018), Doris Duke Award (2016), and MacArthur Fellowship (2013). He currently serves as the Claude and Alfred Mann Endowed Professor in Dance at The University of Southern California (USC) Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. Abraham also sits on the advisory board for Dance Magazine and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the inaugural Black Genius Brain Trust, and the inaugural cohort of the Dorchester Industries Experimental Design Lab, a partnership between the Prada Group, Theater Gates Studio, Dorchester Industries, and Rebuild Foundation.

His company, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, is widely considered ‘one of the most consistently excellent troupes working today’ (The New York Times). Led by Abraham’s innovative vision, the work of A.I.M is galvanized by Black and Queer culture and history grounded in a conglomeration of unique perspectives; described as a ‘post-modern gumbo’ of movement exploration.

Abraham has conceived works for Alvin Ailey, New York City Ballet and the Royal Ballet. In December 2024, Abraham, will premiere a new work, ‘Dear Lord, Make Me Beautiful’ at the Park Avenue Armory.

Image description: A single performer is draped on the floor, one foot pointing out, the other tucked beneath them. Their hands on the floor allow them to arch their chest up and tilt their head back. They are wearing orange trousers and a blue shirt that is open exposing smooth dark skin. The performer looks calm and free.
Header image © Jassy Earl