Overview of Untitled America
Untitled America, choreographed by Kyle Abraham, explores the lasting impacts of the prison system on African American individuals and those closest to them. Debuting at the New York City Center in 2016, Untitled America is a haunting trilogy that utilizes the unique movement vocabulary of Kyle Abraham, featuring contemporary and street styles. The First and Second Movements were originally separate but combined with the Third Movement to be debuted as a suite.
Message
The thematic exploration related to families in the prison system involves the dancers, movement, lighting, and sounds. Abraham also aimed to investigate the present reality of how many people of color are killed before they even get a trial or make it to prison. Dancers of color wearing simplistic brown and grey costumes enter onto a stage with eerie lighting, as if they are in a cell. The mimicked action of wearing handcuffs is repeated throughout the piece. The sound score includes accounts from people in prison or family members affected by the prison system, allowing viewers to understand real stories and experiences. Abraham and the dancers aimed to leave audiences experiencing a cathartic feeling while watching. After interacting with the suite, Kyle Abraham hopes people explore what family means to them.
Behind the Scenes: Kyle Abraham's 'Untitled America'
Company: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Choreographer: Kyle Abraham
Music: Laura Mvula, Raime, Carsten Nicolai, Kris Bowers, and Traditional
Costumes: Karen Young
Lighting and Set: Dan Scully
Rehearsal Assistants: Tamisha Guy, Connie Shiau
Sound Design: Sam Crawford
Run Time: 35 minutes
Works Cited
Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc. "Repertory Untitled America." Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, 2024. https://ailey.org/repertory/untitled-america