This performance is made up of four sensual, provocative and high-intensity pieces which bring the Barcelona public closer to the work of a choreographer who is one of the youngest and brightest landmarks of contemporary American dance.
A.I.M, previously Abraham In Motion, aims to create an "interdisciplinary and evocative" show. The mixture of styles and disciplines is not at all strange, since the soul of the company, choreographer Kyle Abraham, was born in the midst of the hip-hop culture in the late 70's. but had a classical background which included the study of the cello, the piano and the visual arts. He bases his work on sound, human behavior and visual aspects, starting points of a choreographic search that, on stage, takes the form of an unclassifiable dance, between ballet and urban dances. The dancers interpret records ranging from hip hop to the most elegant forms of jazz, afro or electronic rhythms. The mix offers a particularly fresh and personal result, hence currently considered the best and most brilliant talent that appeared in New York in the Obama days... Accompanied by some dancers who come from different disciplines but put their personal background in common on stage.
In his stay in Barcelona, A.I.M will present four choreographies, State, The Quiet Dance, Show Pony and Drive. The first is actually a trio commissioned by the company to the choreographer Andrea Miller (remember Wonderland, which opened 2014 Grec Festival), and the second, a quintet that dances the review of jazz pianist Bill Evans from the classic theme of Leonard Bernstein's Some Other Time. The solo Show Pony is performed by recipient of the Princess Grace Dance Award Tamisha Guy, while in Drive we will find eight performers starring in a particularly energetic choreography. It seems meant for the dance floor of a club but it was commissioned by the New York City Center for the 2017 edition of the Fall Dance Festival.
A production of A.I.M
Drive was commissioned by New York City Center for the 2017 Fall Dance Festival with generous support from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Special funding for Drive provided by Jay Franke & David Herro, and by Rick Beyer. Drive was developed, in part, through a residency at White Oak Conservation, made possible by the Howard Gilman Foundation.
Company performers: Kyle Abraham, Matthew Baker, Tamisha Guy, Keerati Jinakunwiphat, Claude "CJ" Johnson, Catherine Ellis Kirk, Marcella Lewis, Jeremy "Jae" Neal
state (2018)
Choreography: Andrea Miller in collaboration with the dancers of A.I.M Interpretation: Keerati Jinakunwiphat, Catherine Ellis Kirk, Marcella Lewis Music Composition: Reggie Wilkins Lighting Design: Nicole Pearce Costume Design: Jose Solis Rehearsal Directors: Tamisha Guy, Allysen Hooks
The Quiet Dance (2011)
Choreography: Kyle Abraham Interpretation: TBA Music: Some Other Time, composed by Leonard Bernstein, played by Bill Evans Lighting Design: Dan Scully Costume Design: Kristi Wood
Show Pony (2018)
Choreography: Kyle Abraham Interpretation: Tamisha Guy Music: Hatshepsut, by Jlin Lighting Design: Dan Scully Costume Design: Fritz Masten
Drive (2017)
Choreography: Kyle Abraham in collaboration with A.I.M Interpretation: Matthew Baker, Tamisha Guy, Keerati Jinakunwiphat, Claude "CJ" Johnson, Catherine Ellis Kirk, Marcella Lewis, Jeremy "Jae" Neal Music: Theo Parrish and Mobb Deep, with additional sound editing by Sam Crawford Lighting Design: Dan Scully Costume Design: Karen Young
Local production: Velvet Events
