Michael Byrne
Hailing from South Africa, Michael Byrne is a passionate advocate for the intersection between dance, design, and digital technology. His current creative praxis challenges cultural asymmetries in civic spaces, using the moving body as a locus of history and drawing upon immersive applications to foster critical perspectives.
Michael completed his design and performance studies in Johannesburg, London, and Cambridge, before appearing in the narrative works of The Royal Ballet for 10 years, as well as touring productions of the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Ballet companies. He is based at Cornell University’s technology campus, Cornell Tech, where he has collaborated with the New York Choreographic Institute, Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, and Ballet Hispánico on several interdisciplinary projects. Most recently, Michael completed a Dance Research Fellowship at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, exploring themes of monumentality, identity, and innovation.