Titled “A Theatrical Love Letter to Social Dance” by the New York Times, Kyle Abrahams’ “An United Love” (2021) by A.I.M illuminated the walls of Bovard Auditorium on Feb. 15th through a performative conversation between the complexities of black and self-love and the celebration of culture, community, and family.
In an event hosted by USC Visions and Voices in partnership with USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, both students and faculty were invited to attend the free theatrical performance of “An United Love” and stay for a conversation with Kyle Abraham and members of the company.
Characterized as a “Black love sitcom” by dancer Catherine Kirk, the showcase is a combination of comedies, acting, and dance that illustrates the roots of Black culture and portrays the feelings of neo-romanticism of Black love in America.
Created and choreographed by the artistic director of A.I.M, Kyle Abraham, and music by Grammy Award-winning R&B artist, D’Angelo, “An United Love” is one of the more recent works of A.I.M, a Black-owned new york-based contemporary dance group.
Despite “An United Love” being their first show performance for USC, A.I.M has been an active partner with USC’s School of Dance, offering classes to students in the past through their 2022 A.I.M Winter Intensive which focused on teaching technique and professional development.
Students, including Hayden Rivas, a Master of Studies in Law student who has participated in the program for two years, expressed how the program’s focus was highly inclusive, focusing on the collaboration of the arts rather than the skill.
While teaching at the University of Southern California, Abraham has made an effort to still put on performances including “The Runaway” which was staged at the Lincoln Center, in addition to preparing for his act with the Royal Ballet act set to premiere on March 24th, marking it the first once-act ballet commissioned by a Black choreographer.
Through his projects and norm-breaking achievements, Abraham seeks to continue reaching new heights in the dance world while inspiring others to do the same. To him, the music and dance is an unaging phenomenon.
“Super fresh. Some things are even heightened. You know how when you’re out at a place with a jukebox, you can tell who’s picked what song by their reaction when the song comes on?” said Abraham, in an interview with the New York Times.
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