Springdances: Revel & Reckon opens on Thursday, April 24, and features work from NYC-based artist and choreographer Katy Pyle alongside UWM Dance faculty.
Pyle is an accomplished dancer and the founder of Ballez, a New York City ballet company that restages classical dances to promote LGBTQ+ narratives. They visited UWM in the spring semester to work with our dance students ahead of Springdances.
‘Four days in which everyone was all in’
Springdances proved to be a perfect opportunity for Pyle to reset a work they created during the pandemic, which was previously only presented via livestream from an empty theater.
Reworking it in 2025 was a positive experience for Pyle. They feel this new version reflects the chaos a lot of students may be feeling now.
“Because of the current moment… I condensed all the audition solos into one chaotic mad scene in which everyone is auditioning at once,” said Pyle. “This feels more like this moment, when everyone I know feels threatened.”
When dance students work with guest artists, they typically have a condensed schedule. While some could perceive this as difficult, Pyle stays productive and uses the finite time together as a way to bond with students.
“I think there’s something really precious and sacred about a condensed work period, in which everyone’s sole focus is on what we’re creating together,” said Pyle. “It was only four days, but it was four days in which everyone was all in!”
During their four-day workshop, Pyle reunited with former colleague, Dawn Springer (Teaching Faculty I, Dance), whom Pyle met during an informative period at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Upon returning to New York, Pyle entrusted Springer to continue preparations with PSOA students.
While Pyle was grateful to have a trusted advisor to continue their work, they also placed trust and confidence in the PSOA dancers, all of whom impressed Pyle.
“I loved getting to work with the dancers, to play, to experiment, and to connect,” said Pyle. “These are really generous and receptive young artists, and I’m very grateful to them!”
‘Art is a necessity‘
Much of Pyle’s work through Ballez and beyond seeks to update classical ballets. This approach was brought to PSOA as Pyle worked with students to see ballet in a positive light.
“We were able to share stories both good and bad about ballet, and I think that really helped with performance quality for the dance itself,” said junior dance student Isaac Robertson. “To me, Katy’s work is all about radical self-expression and love for your community.”
Robertson expressed gratitude for working with Pyle, believing that the opportunity to work alongside guest choreographers can have lasting impacts on a student’s career.
“Not only do we get to work with more diverse artists, but we make connections, sometimes life-long connections,” Roberston said. “The people you meet in college can sometimes be the most important.”
Another student who expressed gratitude in their working relationship with Pyle is junior dance major Brooke Allison “BA” Parkinson.
Similar to Robertson, Parkinson’s past with ballet became a major part of the process in working with Pyle, which helped them feel more comfortable about the piece.
“Though the process was fast, Katy took the time to discuss our personal experiences with ballet in relation to our identities,” said Parkinson. “They placed how the choreography looks and how it feels to embody dance on the same level, encouraging us to think about how we can make ballet both physically and mentally as comfortable as possible.”
Parkinson praised Pyle for promoting the limitless possibilities that are available in the arts.
“Art is a necessity, it’s not some frivolous thing we do or see to pass the time; it’s created to express oneself and connect with others,” said Parkinson. “Not only can guest artists lead to future career opportunities, they give us exposure and insight as to what is possible in the arts.”
Springdances: Revel & Reckon premieres five bold new dance works that capture the beauty and contradictions of contemporary life with choreography by Katy Pyle and UWM Dance faculty Mair Culbreth, Maria Gillespie, Ishmael Konney, and Gina Laurenzi. Springdances: Revel & Reckon opens April 24 and runs through April 27 at Kenilworth Square East.
Tickets and more information can be found on the PSOA Events Calendar.
Story by Jason McCullum ’25