Acknowledgments

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This project is supported by The MAP Fund, which is generously supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.  This work was created, in part, during a Creative Development Residency at the Bates Dance Festival and was created by Kyle Abraham to benefit Dancers Responding to AIDS, with generous support from Major Choreographic Sponsor Rockefeller Brothers Fund and from Choreographic Sponsors David DeMuro & Chris Longobucco.

This work was developed, in part, through a Danspace Project residency at the Institute for Curatorial Practice in Performance (ICPP) at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT and through a 651 ARTS Artist Development Initiative residency at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn, NY. Live! The Realest MC is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund Project co-commissioned by Miami Dade College in partnership with On The Boards, Bates Dance Festival, Dance Place, 651 ARTS and NPN.

Abraham.In.Motion is a proud supporter of Dancers Responding to AIDS.

Design by Neil Donnelly

Contact & Donations

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Donate to A.I.M. via
New York Live Arts

 

Kyle Abraham / Abraham.In.Motion is a fiscally sponsored member of New York Live Arts, Inc., a non-profit tax-exempt organization. Contributions in support of Kyle Abraham / Abraham.In.Motion’s work are greatly appreciated and may be made payable to New York Live Arts, Inc., earmarked for “the New York Live Arts member project of Kyle Abraham / Abraham.In.Motion,” and sent to:
New York Live Arts
219 West 19th Street
New York, NY 10011
 

A description of the work and current project activities for which such contributions will be used are available from Kyle Abraham / Abraham.In.Motion or New York Live Arts, upon request. All contributions are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law. (Note: A copy of New York Live Arts’ latest annual financial report filed with the New York State Department of State may be obtained by writing to the N.Y.S. Dept. of State, Charities Registration, 162 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231, or to New York Live Arts, 219 West 19th Street, New York, NY 10011)

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Booking

Sophie Myrtil-McCourty at Pentacle
(212) 278-8111

The Radio Show microsite

Press Kit (PDF)

Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion is a member of Pentacle (Dance Works, Inc.) a non-profit service organization for the performing arts, Mara Greenberg and Ivan Sygoda, Directors. 246 West 38th Street, 4th, New York, NY 10018. Tel (212) 278-8111, Fax (212) 278-8555.

© 2011 Kyle Abraham / Abraham.In.Motion

Photos & Video

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Hsiao-Jou Tang (photo by Cherylynn Tsushima)Chalvar Monteiro (photo by Cherylynn Tsushima)Kyle Abraham and Chalvar Monteiro (photo by Cherylynn Tsushima)

Rachelle Rafailedes and Rena Butler (photo by Cherylynn Tsushima)Abraham.In.Motion (photo by Christopher Duggan)Abraham.In.Motion (photo by Cherylynn Tsushima)

Collaborators

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Kyle Abraham, Brittanie Brown, Rena Butler, Chalvar Monteiro, Rachelle Rafailedes, Addison Reese, Maleek Washington

Original Performers

Carley Manion, Elyse Morris, Carrie Schneider, Dan Scully, Hsiao-Jou Tang, Kristi Wood

Kyle Abraham, professional dancer and choreographer, began his training at the Civic Light Opera Academy and the Creative and Performing Arts High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He continued his dance studies in New York, receiving a BFA from SUNY Purchase and an MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Over the past few years, Abraham has received tremendous accolades and awards for his dancing and choreography including a 2010 Bessie Award for Outstanding Performance in Dance for his work in The Radio Show along with a 2010 Princess Grace Award for Choreography, a BUILD grant and an individual artist fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts, a Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant, a Pennsylvania Council for the Arts Fellowship and 2009 was honored as one of Dance Magazine’s 25 To Watch.

Abraham was heralded by OUT Magazine as one of the “best and brightest creative talent to emerge in New York City in the age of Obama.” His choreography has been presented throughout the United States and abroad, most recently at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Danspace Project, Dance Theater Workshop, Bates Dance Festival, Harlem Stage, Fall for Dance Festival at New York’s City Center, Montreal, Germany, Dublin’s Project Arts Center, The Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum located in Okinawa Japan and The Andy Warhol Museum in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA.

Abraham’s most recent work, The Corner, commissioned by Ailey 2, is currently touring internationally with great reception.

As a performer, Abraham has worked with acclaimed modern dance companies including David Dorfman Dance, Burnt Sugar Dance Conduction Continuum, Nathan Trice/Rituals, Mimi Garrard Dance Theater, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Dance Alloy, The Kevin Wynn Collection and Attack Theatre.  In addition to performing and developing new works for his company, Abraham.In.Motion, Abraham also teaches his unique approach to post-modern dance in various schools and studios throughout the United States.

Brittanie Brown, graduating from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas, where she was a member and assistant rehearsal director of the Repertory 1 Dance Company, has recently received her B.F.A. in dance from The Juilliard School in May of 2011. Brittanie did not begin her formal dance training until the age of 12 at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. By 2007, Brittanie was a Silver Award 2007 YoungArts winner in modern dance and a Texas Young Master recognized by the Texas Commission on the Arts. In the same year, Brittanie was also named Presidential Scholar in the Arts. In previous years, she has performed original works by Alexander Ekman, Shannon Gillen, Kanji Segawa, Ohad Naharin, Robert Battle, Stijn Celis and Victor Quijada. She has had many opportunities to travel throughout the world, teaching and learning through outreach programs and workshops. Upon graduating, in summer of 2011, Brittanie was honored to go on her first international tour and perform in Company XIV’s Pinnochio in Edinburgh, Scotland. She is currently a full time company member with the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company and Roadwork Dance. Brittanie is excited and honored to finally have the opportunity to work with this incredible company, Abraham.In.Motion.

Rena Butler is a native of Chicago, IL. There, she studied at the Chicago Academy for the Arts under the instruction of Anna Paskevska, Randy Duncan, and Sandra Kaufmann. During her tenure at the Academy, Rena performed with Luna Negra Dance Theater, and in 2007, performed on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. In 2003, she went on tour with salsa dance company, Pasos Con Sabor, to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Rena is currently in the class of 2011 at SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance. While at Purchase, she has had the great privilege of studying dance abroad at the Taipei National University of the Arts in Taipei, Taiwan. She has also worked with choreographers such as Doug Varone, Luca Vegetti, Pam Tanowitz, Kevin Wynn, and Dianne McIntyre. She is thrilled to be working with Kyle Abraham and the members of Abraham In Motion, and is excited to see what the future brings.

Carley Manion is an Oregon native. She trained in dance before starting work as a Stage Manager. She began in college while studying for her Bachelors’ degree in dance at the University of Oregon. The UO Dance Department awarded her the Outstanding Service Award for her commitment stage-managing for the University of Oregon Repertory Dance Company and other various shows within the department. After graduation, Carley was accepted for the technical production internship at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. She continued work in technical production in Portland, Oregon and after a time, returned to work at the Pillow as seasonal staff in 2009. She has been an Associate Production Manager at Jacob’s Pillow from 2009 to 2011. Carley first met Abraham.In.Motion and had the wonderful opportunity to work with them at the Pillow.

Chalvar Monteiro began his formal dancing training at Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts. He went on to study at The Ailey School under the direction of Denise Jefferson, and earned his BFA in dance from SUNY Purchase. After graduating in 2010, he joined Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion and that fall, joined Elisa Monte Dance for her 30th Anniversary Season. He has been privileged to perform works by Judith Jamison, Merce Cunningham, Kevin Wynn, Sidra Bell, Paul Taylor, Doug Varone and Helen Pickett.

Elyse Morris is a native of Brooklyn, NY and graduated from LaGuardia High School of Music and Art & Performing Arts in 2006. She has received scholarships to study at Ballet Hispanico, The Alvin Ailey School, The School at Jacob’s Pillow, Alonzo King’s LINES ballet school and Springboard Danse Montreal. Elyse holds a B.A. in Dance (Cum Laude) with a concentration in dance science from Goucher College. While at Goucher, Elyse also received a scholarship to study the history and performance of contemporary and traditional dance in Rio de Janiero, Brazil in 2008. She has performed works by artists such as Robert Battle, Thaddeus Davis and Tanya Wideman-Davis, Larry Keigwin, Heather McArdle, Robert Moses, Troy Powell, and Nathan Trice. Elyse joined Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion in 2010 and is also a part of The Seán Curran Company. She credits God for all her artistic success!

Rachelle Rafailedes, a native Ohioan, began dancing at the age of three and has received her BFA from The Juilliard School in 2009 where she was awarded the honor of the Martha Hill Prize for excellence in leadership and dance. Rachelle has performed with Keigwin + Company, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Loni Landon, and with the Juilliard Dance Ensemble in New York City Center’s Fall for Dance festival. In her career thus far, Rachelle has been fortunate to perform works by Ohad Naharin, Twyla Tharp, Antony Tudor, and Aszure Barton. Rachelle joined Abraham.In.Motion in 2009 and is a Bessie Award winning collaborator for Kyle Abraham’s The Radio Show.

Addison Reese began dancing at the age of 3, and is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina. She attended the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College, and graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts. Some of her performance credits at Purchase College include The Nutcracker, Rise choreographed by Doug Varone, and Dream Support choreographed by Wallie Wolfgruber. In 2010, she was part of the world premiere of Habiki Hana Ma choreographed by Luca Veggetti at the Judson Church. While attending Purchase College, Addison was awarded the David Falk Scholarship, Robert Weiner Scholarship for Dance, and the Director’s Award. Addison began dancing with Abraham.In.Motion in 2012, and has also danced with contemporary companies the DASH ensemble and Red Vern, both based in New York City. In addition to dance, Addison enjoys teaching Hatha yoga, and received her Yoga Alliance teaching certificate from Birchwood Center Nyack, New York.

Carrie Schneider (Filmmaker; b. 1979 Chicago, lives Brooklyn) is an artist working in performative photography, film, and video. Exhibitions include: The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh; the Third Azerbaijan Biennial in Baku; Gallery 44, Toronto; Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen; Istanbul’s santralistanbul; and The Finnish Museum of Photography, Helsinki. Awards include the Joan Mitchell Foundation Residency Fellowship, and production grants from the Jerome Foundation and the Finnish Center for Media Culture (AVEK). Schneider attended Carnegie Mellon University (BFA 2001), The Art Institute of Chicago (MFA 2007), the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture (2007) and the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki, as a Fulbright Fellow (2008). Currently Carrie is faculty at the International Center of Photography in New York.

Dan Scully (Technical Director/Lighting Designer): Dan is a New York based lighting and projection designer, and has been designing lighting for Kyle Abraham and Abraham in Motion for over six years.  Recent work includes 1969 (Alarm Will Sound/Carnegie Hall), The Witch of Edmonton (Red Bull Theater), The Orchestra Rocks! (Carnegie Hall), Seven Last Words (Lincoln Center Chamber Orchestra Society), The Wii Plays (Ars Nova), Christmas is Miles Away (Babel Theater), Caligula (Soho Rep.) and Di Ksube (Folksbeine National Yiddish Theatre), among other credits. Regional: Trinity Rep., GEVA, Asolo Rep., and Two River Theater Company.  Other work includes resident lighting designer for the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival and lighting designer for Amy Brenneman’s one-woman show, Mouth Wide Open. MFA-Tisch/NYU.

Hsiao-Jou Tang was born and raised in Taiwan. She moved to New York in 2004 to attend SUNY Purchase College, and graduated in 2008 with a BFA in Dance. Tang has had the great pleasure of working with a number of wonderful people and companies including Doug Varone and Dancers, Adriane Fang, Daniel Charon Dance, Nora Petroliunas/ The Pharmacy Project, Alex|Xan The Median Movement, Shen Wei Dance Arts, Kevin Wynn Collection, and Sidra Bell Dance NY. Hsiao-jou is trilled to be here and has had a great time working and dancing with all of these lovely folks.

Maleek Washington was born in the Bronx, New York, and at seven years old was introduced to dance at Broadway Dance Center and the Harlem School of the Arts. After attending Laguradia High School for Performing Arts, Maleek continued his education at The Boston Conservatory while performing with the Commonwealth Ballet and working with Complexions. He attended Jacob’s Pillow for 2 consecutive years and has collaborated with CityDance Ensemble and toured to over 8 countries with them. Recently Maleek attended SpringBoard Danse where he was able to join Jose Novas’s Company Flak for a season of European tours. In addition, he has interacted with choreographers such as Azure Barton, Helen Pickett, Michael Utoff, Milton Meyers, Yuriko Takata, and Tim Rushton of the Danish Dance Theater. This is Maleek’s First season with Abraham in Motion. Maleek would like to dedicate his season in the loving memory of his late Grandmother Duella Smith.

Kristi Wood (Costume Designer) currently works wardrobe on the Broadway Show WAR HORSE at Lincoln Center. Past works include: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, A Chorus Line (Broadway), BLAST! (Broadway), America’s Next Top Model, All My Children, August Wilson Dance Ensemble, Jacob’s Pillow, School of American Ballet and Time Stands Still with Christopher Lancaster.

Performances & Reviews

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May 17–18, 2014

Live! The Realest MC
Ira Aldridge Theatre, Howard University
2455 6th St NW, Washington, DC

March 14–16, 2013 at 8pm

Live! The Realest MC
Walker Art Center
Minneapolis, MN

Feb 1–2, 2013 at 8pm

Live! The Realest MC
Miami Dade College
Miami, FL

November 15–17, 2012

The Radio Show
World Music/CRASHarts, Institute of Contemporary Art
Boston, MA

November 1–3, 2012

Pavement (World Premiere)
Harlem Stage
New York, NY

September 19–21, 2012

Live! The Realest MC
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

July 19 and 21 at 8pm

Live! The Realest MC
Bates Dance Festival
Lewiston, ME

June 26–28, 2012 at 8pm

The Radio Show
American Dance Festival
Durham, NC

June 19–22, 2012 at 8pm
June 23, 2012 at 4pm

The Radio Show
International Festival of Arts and Ideas
New Haven, CT

June 1–4, 2012

The Radio Show
Spoleto Festival USA
Charleston, SC

May 5, 2012 at 8pm
May 6, 2012 at 7pm

The Radio Show
Dance Place
Washington, DC

April 28, 2012 at 7:30pm

The Radio Show
Escher Auditorium at the College of St. Benedict
St. John, MN

April 19–22, 2012 at 8pm

Live! The Realest MC
On The Boards
Seattle, WA

March 31, 2012 at 8pm

The Radio Show
South Miami Dade Cultural Arts Center
Miami, FL

March 22–24, 2012 at 8pm

Boyz N The Hood: Cadence (work-in-progress excerpt)
Danspace Project
New York, NY

March 16–17, 2012 at 8pm

The Radio Show
Mahaney Center for the Arts at Middlebury University
Middlebury, VT

March 1, 2012 at 7:30pm

The Radio Show
Glema Mahr Center for the Arts
Madisonville, KY

February 23–25, 2012 at 8pm

The Radio Show
Emory University
Atlanta, GA

February 18, 2012 at 7pm

The Radio Show
Chapman Cultural Center
Spartanburg, SC

February 3, 2012 at 8pm

The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College
New York, NY

January 4 & 8, 2012

FOCUS Dance at the Joyce Theater
New York, NY

December 8–10, 2011

The Kitchen
New York, NY

November 18–19, 2011

Kelly Strayhorn
Theatre

Pittsburgh, PA

About the Show

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“Abraham is something of an emotional chameleon. His stage persona often appears as a street-smart dude who sports a tough armor, but we recognize it to be a shield for vulnerability. Frequently he or his dancers burst unexpectedly from near-stupors into storms of turns or jumps, as if no longer able to stay coiled within. Watched carefully, Abraham’s group choreography displays an intensely naked understanding of humanity; watching Abraham dance alone is deeply moving.”
—Janine Parker, The Boston Globe

Live! The Realest MC is a work inspired by both the story of Pinocchio and an early solo work of mine, Inventing Pookie Jenkins. The similarity in these characters lay in their quest for acceptance. For one, it’s a quest to become a “real boy” for the other, it’s a quest for “realness.” Reimagined in an evening-length ensemble work that investigates gender roles within my community, this story took on a deeper dive when faced with the 2010 media headlines surrounding the untimely death of college student Tyler Clementi and 13-year-old Ryan Halligan in 2003. I began to think about a time in my life when I prayed that I could go unnoticed. Hoping that if I get my voice to sound like the other male students around me, I wouldn’t be found out. I just wanted to be a robot… a puppet… but maybe without the lederhosen.

The mission of Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion is to create an evocative interdisciplinary body of work. Born into hip hop culture in the late 70’s and grounded in Abraham’s artistic upbringing in classical cello, piano, and the visual arts, the goal of the movement is to delve into identity in relation to a personal history. The work entwines a sensual and provocative vocabulary with a strong emphasis on sound, human behavior and all things visual in an effort to create an avenue for personal investigation and exposing that on stage. A.I.M is a representation of dancers from various disciplines and diverse personal backgrounds. Combined together, these individualities create movement that is manipulated and molded into something fresh and unique.