Kyle Abraham, the first Black person who was recently commissioned to choreograph work for the New York City Ballet in over a decade, stopped by Blavity News to discuss his latest project, An Untitled Love, the influences of R&B and Blackness on his work and how dance has influenced his personal style on and off the stage.
On choreographing for the New York City Ballet
Abraham said that the feat evokes several thoughts in him regarding how people see his work and what it means for Black choreographers coming up after him.
“There’s so much that can go through my head, in particular,” Abraham told Blavity News. “I have to think about what people who are just seeing my work and what their assumptions might be of the type of work that I would be making. There are also questions that I have for myself, ‘Is this work Black enough?’ If I fail, will it mean that no other Black person will have this opportunity?”
On his new project, “An Untitled Love”
Abraham’s latest project, An Untitled Love, is a work of art that blends several elements together to culminate in a brilliantly choreographed performance. The components of his love for his family, the artistry of musician D’Angelo and more amalgamate to bring these many influences to life. For Abraham, one of the major highlights is honoring his parents and other elders who have played a part in his upbringing.
“There’s a lot of love on the stage,” Abraham said. “I wanted to pay homage to not only my parents, who are no longer with us, but also those aunts and uncles that we all have that aren’t really blood relatives but are aunts and uncles. There was so much joy growing up and such a sense of carefree pride that I felt like I was experiencing with these elders.”
On the influences of R&B and Blackness in his work
Abraham’s projects generally feature heavy themes of R&B music and Blackness, which Abraham said is simply because it’s who he is.
“For me, it’s who I am ultimately. I want to show my culture — I want to cherish it in a way that also addresses the reality that we are in no way monolithic.”
How dance has influenced his personal style
Abraham is a renowned choreographer and artistic director who has created his own lane within the field of dance. When asked how dance influences his personal style on and off the stage, Abraham explains it simply.
“Discovery and exploration and freedom that can exist within dance and trying to continuously evoke that in my outside life,” Abraham said. “The biggest thing of the marriage between me and the studio and out of the studio is the work in relationship to trust.”
For more information on An Untitled Love, click here.
