Kyle Abraham's A.I.M. Captivates in Cal Performances Debut

Choreographer's politically charged yet deeply intimate work resonates in Berkeley performance.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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In its Cal Performances debut, Kyle Abraham's dance company A.I.M. delivered a powerful and poignant program at UC Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall. Pairing political urgency with profound intimacy, the nine-member troupe performed works that grappled with themes of segregation, white supremacy, and police brutality, while also showcasing the choreographer's gift for creating deeply moving, personal moments on the big stage.

Why it matters

Abraham's work has long been acclaimed for its ability to tackle social and political issues through the lens of the human experience. His Cal Performances debut underscored his talent for commanding vast spaces while maintaining an unparalleled sense of closeness and vulnerability, resonating with the audience on both an intellectual and emotional level.

The details

The program featured a reinterpretation of jazz drummer Max Roach's 1960 'We Insist! - Freedom Now' suite, with vocalist Charenee Wade's powerful performance intertwining with video footage of the 2014 killing of Eric Garner. Other works, like 'The Gettin'' and '2 x 4,' blended styles from hip-hop to classical Indian forms, showcasing Abraham's unique movement vocabulary. Standout performances included Suzy Mondesir's backbend-heavy solo in 'Little Girl Blue' and Mykiah Goree's mesmerizing flexibility in '2 x 4'.

  • The performance took place on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at UC Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall.
  • A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham previously performed in the Bay Area in 2012 and several times since then.

The players

Kyle Abraham

The choreographer and artistic director of the New York-based dance company A.I.M., who has risen to acclaim as a MacArthur 'genius' fellow.

A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham

The nine-member dance company that performed the politically charged yet deeply intimate program at Cal Performances.

Max Roach

The legendary jazz drummer whose 1960 'We Insist! - Freedom Now' suite was reinterpreted as part of the performance.

Robert Glasper

The Grammy-winning composer who reinterpreted Roach's suite for the performance.

Charenee Wade

The vocalist who performed live onstage, lending her powerful voice to the reinterpreted Roach suite.

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What they’re saying

“Truth is often complex and hard to hold. But truth held with integrity can be healing, even when painful.”

— Rachel Howard, Dance Critic (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Here was a choreographer who knows how to command vast spaces — in 2024, Abraham even filled Manhattan's mammoth Park Avenue Armory — and now that he was finally getting the huge Bay Area venue he deserves, he was making the evening one of deepest intimacy.”

— Rachel Howard, Dance Critic (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham is scheduled to perform a second show at Cal Performances on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

The takeaway

Kyle Abraham's Cal Performances debut demonstrated his remarkable ability to tackle complex social and political issues through deeply personal, emotionally resonant choreography. His work's blend of technical virtuosity and raw vulnerability left a lasting impression, cementing his status as one of the most vital voices in contemporary dance.