Rising Stars: Meet Kaylin Horgan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaylin Horgan. 

Hi Kaylin, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My name is Kaylin Horgan, and I am originally from Pittsburgh, PA. I’ve been dancing for as long as I can remember. 

I met Cleveland native Antonio Brown when I was a freshman in high school. Our teachers were friends, and Antonio became my first dance partner. I would frequently visit Cleveland to take dance classes and perform throughout my time in high school. It was like my second home growing up. 

In college, I attended Point Park University and upon graduation, joined the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble and The Pillow Project, both based in Pittsburgh. I had a beautiful start to my professional dance career with those companies both nationally and internationally. 

Later, I danced in Wylliams Henry Contemporary Dance Company in Kansas City, Mo, and was proudly casted as “Mary” in Tri- C Art’s Coming Of The King. (Cleveland) .in 2017. I kept my relationship with Tri- C as a guest teacher and choreographer since then and as recently as this summer. 

In 2021 I wrote, choreographed, and directed my first full-length musical, Milton, which won Pittsburgh City Paper’s “Best Virtual Production of 2021.” 

I am now working with Antonio Brown again in New York City, dancing in his company AntonioBrownDance. The company is currently on tour with 5-time Grammy Award winner Esperanza Spalding. (Which has been the journey of my life!) 

In addition, I am currently a jazz and modern teacher at Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 as well as an international freelance choreographer. (I will be choreographing for the United Dance Productions in Bermuda at the end of August.) 

I have two cats, Eddie and Joe. My favorite color is green, my favorite food is Pho and my favorite song is Roberta Flack’s Do What You Gotta Do. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Goodness! So many struggles, but all so worth it. 

To be an artist is to be brave. The journey is not mapped out in advanced, unlike most career choices. It takes so much faith and a lot of blind leaps to trust that everything will eventually work out. It takes a lot of sacrifice. 

One month you might have the means to eat steak, the next month you might be eating peanut butter from the jar for breakfast. But I believe that if you love what you do, you can see the big picture and keep pushing. Dancer’s, in my opinion, are the smartest, strongest humans on the planet. Our jobs are so important, but we rarely see the same compensation that we deserve. We give our bodies to this craft. Dance conservatory tuition is outrageous compared to how much the industry can offer us in return. We, like athletes are so prone to injuries but rarely have the option of health insurance. 

We live in a country where the arts in general are not valued but always desired. I work at a school currently where the pay rate of the academic teachers to the art teachers is incomparable. It’s offensive. Sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated when you discover this information. 

Although this is something that I am currently attempting to address, I recognize the value dance has on youth, and I will show up for them as long as I can. 

Imagine a world without dance? It’s impossible. I believe in what we do for the world. The fight is far from over, but dance is powerful! 

I now, at 32 have the means to everyday stability, but it didn’t come without struggle and a lot of held breath, hoping a paycheck or a contract would go through. My fight is for the next generation of artists. That they don’t have to choose between their job and their dinner. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
When I was asked to talk about myself in the first question, I mentioned that I am a dance artist. Apparently, I see being a dancer as an identity as well. Haha 

As a young dancer, I studied ballet, modern, African, jazz, contemporary, and improvisation. 

As a young adult, I started choreographing youth musicals and totally fell in love with the idea of merging contemporary dance and theater as a means of expression. 

Most of my original work tends to cross both styles along with improvisation. 

I love narrative-based work. I often use my parent’s perspective as a way to anchor my work as well. I always ask myself, “could my dad understand this?”. I believe in holding on to the integrity of high-quality art yet speaking to “nonartists” through my work. I don’t tend to require the audience to overthink to understand. I like to view my choreography as if it were a film. 

One of the projects I am most proud of is the musical I created, “Milton.” I believe this was my first successful attempt at contemporary dance theater. Through a residency with the New Hazlett Theater (Pittsburgh), with original music by Treble NLS, Brittney Chantel, and Selena Williams; together we told the story of Attorney Milton Raiford and his impact of the city of Pittsburgh. 

We created this work through the height of the pandemic and ended up with a stunning piece. (Best approved my Milton Raiford himself.) This project had every opportunity to fail! But my cast was so faithful, committed, and resilient. The passion to complete this work and tell this story overcame every covid test and socially distant hurdle. 

The other work that I am most proud of is the work I am currently doing with Antonio Brown and Esperanza Spalding. Working with Esperanza has been a dream of mine for years. I believe the show is a perfect accumulation of everything that I have explored and studied as an artist thus far. 

The talent in this group is quite intimidating, but I am growing rapidly. To be able to say that at the age of 32 is rare. 

I believe this work transcends so many things that the world is challenged with today. 

Race, gender, age, woman’s rights, the distraction of the earth, etc. The show has a way of humbling and unifying on a human/ earth level. It’s stunning. 

The show concludes with Esperanza and the audience yelling “Love” back and forth over and over. 

I have never been a part of a show that had such profound intentions of healing every place it runs. 

I am blessed to be a part of it. 

Keep an eye out for the show to come here one day!!! It just might! 

What does success mean to you?
I don’t know if there is a way to measure success. 

I feel that if my person and my work can touch people in a positive way, I am happy. 

I just want to leave places better than when I arrive. 

Contact Info:

• Website: Kaylinhorgan.com
• Instagram: Kaylin1horgan
• Facebook: Kaylin Horgan
• Youtube: Kaylin Horgan

Image Credits
Kuo-Heng Huang
Shawnte Sims
Rene Rosensteel
Mike Strong