KIYON GAINES

Kiyon Gaines trained at Baltimore School of the Arts, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, School of American Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. In 2001, he joined Pacific Northwest Ballet. Mr. Gaines has danced leading roles in George Balanchine's Agon, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Bottom) and Symphony in Three Movements, Val Caniparoli's The Bridge and Torque, Sonia Dawkins's Ripple Mechanics, Nacho Duato's Jardí Tancat and Rassemblement, Ronald Hynd's The Merry Widow, Jerome Robbins' Fancy Free, Kent Stowell's Silver Lining, and Twyla Tharp's Nine Sinatra Songs. In 2005, he originated a leading role in Paul Gibson's The Piano Dance and a featured role in Dominique Dumais' Time and other Matter.  In 2005, Gaines created a pas de deux for Patricia Barker and Karel Cruz entitled ZUM. In 2006, Mr. Gaines produced {SCHWA} for the Choreographers' Showcase which was taken into PNB's repertory and performed during the Celebrate Seattle Festival in April 2007.  Mr. Gaines was a finalist in Canton Ballet’s Pointeworks Choreographic Competition. He also received a scholarship to attend Regional Dance America’s Craft of Choreography Conference in 2007. At the Conference, Mr. Gaines was selected as the recipient of the Choreography Connection Award, which provides him the opportunity to create a new work in 2008 on the RDA Company of his choice. In 2008, he was commissioned by the Peninsula Dance Theater where he created Klavis. He will also participate in PNB’s 2008 Choreographers’ Showcase contributing a work for 5 men entitled Daring Pri’si’zh’ən.  In the fall of 2009, he will create a new work for the Pacific Northwest Ballet that will be added to the company’s active repertory.