Today we’d like to introduce you to Asia Pyron.
Hi Asia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I found my love for dance at the Spelman Children’s Dance Theater at the age of seven, where I began ballet and contemporary dance lessons. Unfortunately, the program was terminated, and I continued my training at Decatur School of Ballet, a new home for me and my artistic expression to grow. During the summer, I attended multiple dance intensives such as Jofferey South and Interlochen Arts Camp. I later was accepted to Interlochen Arts Academy in Northern Michigan for all four years of my high school education and dance training. In 2016, I attended the Boston Conservatory at Berklee where I studied Contemporary Performance and Choreography. During school, I formed my collective PYDANCE and performed my choreographic works in multiple dance festivals across Massachusetts. Since graduating the conservatory with a BFA, I have developed a mission to bring PYDANCE and my choreography to Atlanta and cities across the nation. I’m currently based in Nashville, TN, where I continue to build my collective and prepare dance works to bring to cities like Atlanta and collaborate with Atlanta-based companies to spread the story of my experience and my work as an artist.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growing up as an African American in classical ballet communities was a true reality of being black in America. At a very young age, I would find myself the only black student amongst hundreds of young ballet dancers. It was nothing like the diverse studios I studied with in Atlanta. Not to mention a late start to my training, as most female-identifying dancers start much younger than age seven, I felt a huge amount of pressure being black and unskilled. It took many years for me to not see my blackness as something that holds me back. I felt that my dance style, my upbringing, and my naiveness was all a result of growing up in a black studio. I look back at my progression now and am so thankful for my journey. I started to see my blackness as a blessing to the dance community and I have my Atlanta dance community to thank for that. My body is beautiful and my presence in the studio is impactful. I have an experience that needs to be shared with others to inspire and encourage black artists to blossom and continue expressing themselves. Atlanta is home to many black artists and I am so proud to be one of them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Exploring social and cultural development through imaginative lenses, I create theatrical dance structures to tell stories of rebellion, incorporating iconic influences of countercultures as a catalyst for an all-encompassing experience. Animated movements of self-exaggeration form the language behind my choreographic inventions. My creative process engages dancers in deep research and conversation, challenging them to bring their mental and emotional intelligence into play with their diverse physical intelligence, both learned and innate. Through reflection of past and present social impacts of society and the self, I investigate the effect of taking a subject and presenting it out of context with the aim to use dance as a catalyst of social evolution.
My collective, PYDANCE, is currently based in Nashville, TN where I cultivate my work and spread my mission to new audiences. PYDANCE has recently had its debut performance of “POOL” in partnership with the Centennial Arts Center and recipients of the South Arts Cross Sector Impact Grant and the Metro Arts THRIVE Grant. Since our premiere, we have presented work for the Kindling Arts Festival and The James Theater in Iowa City. We have plans to travel to Atlanta to embark on a new community and bring PYDANCE to our supporters there.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is attending “House in The Park” music festival in Grant Park with my family. My family has a deep love for house music and I always enjoyed watching all walks of life in Atlanta come and dance, especially the Morehouse and Spelman alumni for which my parents are.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pydance.online
- Instagram: @_pydance_ / @itsasia
Image Credits
White and Red Costumes Picture: Photography by Erica Brandell Dancers: Amit Levit, Asia Pyron, Erica Brandell Green leotard: Photography by Erica Brandell Dancer: Asia Pyron Group of dancers outside: Photography by Karen Alisa Dancers: Asia Pyron, Becca Hoback, Lenin Fernandez, Joi Ware, Aurora Jensen
