Schwartz Performing Arts Fund Past Projects
2024-2025 Awardee: A.I.M by Kyle Abraham
The University of Rochester’s Program of Dance and Movement welcomed the acclaimed contemporary dance company A.I.M by Kyle Abraham for a dynamic residency that combined performance, education, and community engagement. Under the artistic direction of Kyle Abraham—a visionary choreographer celebrated for blending traditional and vernacular dance styles—A.I.M explores themes rooted in Black and queer history and culture through a distinctive and highly physical movement vocabulary.
The residency included a powerful lecture demonstration, during which company members created live, improvised choreography, shared excerpts from the company’s repertoire, and engaged in thoughtful dialogue with the audience.
Company artist Faith Montdesire also led two A.I.M Movement Workshops: one on the University of Rochester campus and another at Community Place at the Greater Rochester Senior Center. These workshops fostered inclusive, intergenerational participation among students and older adults.