Untitled America, a haunting work that MacArthur “genius grant” winner Kyle Abraham developed over 2015 and 2016, shines a light on the impact of the prison system on African-American families.
When a first movement of the ballet debuted at NY City Center in December 2015, Dance Magazine wrote: "Kudos to Ailey – and Abraham – for keeping the revelations relevant." When a second section was performed at Lincoln Center in June 2016, The New York Times declared, "Mr. Abraham's [dance] vocabulary, with its rich mix of street and studio suggesting a body at war with itself, is potent and explosive and wonderfully of the moment."
Now completed, Abraham's large-ensemble work is set to a soundscape of soul, ambient, percussive, and electronic music mixed with spoken word narration by former prisoners.
Leadership support for the creation of Untitled America was made possible by Denise Littlefield Sobel and Tikkun Olam Foundation, Inc.
Major support for the creation of Untitled America was provided by commissioning funds from New York City Center.
Generous support was also provided by Michele & Timothy Barakett, McGue Millhiser Trust, and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.