Mario Quinn Lyles is a Dancer, Educator, Hip Hop Recording Artist, and visual/ media artist. As a dancer he has taught at various dance studios including Pittsburgh Heat, The Kelly Strayhorn Theater, Millennium Dance Complex, Los Sabrosos Dance Co. and Evolve Dance Complex in Cranberry Twp. Lyles has served as a youth Choreographer for We Rock Workshop, a residency program led by Liz Berlin of the multi-platinum band Rusted Root. Currently, Lyles is the Project Coordinator for the Creative Learning Transformative Evaluation conducted by the University of Pittsburgh, School of Education in partnership with the Heinz Endowments.
He is the Co-Founder & Executive Director of Level Up Studios, a creative arts studio in Penn Avenues arts district, committed to enriching the artistic & academic experiences of African American youth in the city through dance, visual arts and music. Lyles is a cohort member of KST’s Penn Ave Creative Fellowship 2014-15; a 2017-18 Heinz Fellow through The University Of Pittsburgh School Of Education, Center For Urban Education; and a recipient of NSR’s 2017 Transformative Teaching Artist Award. Most notably, he was a speaker at SXSW EDU 2018 on Panel 'Dance in Urban Education' where he discussed the impact of dance and creative arts in urban classrooms.
“Through our experience as Heinz Fellows and teaching artists in Pittsburgh we have seen the positive effects of movement in urban school environments,” remarks Lyles during an interview by internationally recognized SXSW conference, “allowing students time to decompress, heal, and express.”
DANCE
Mario has had the pleasure to work, train and dance with dancers: Gabe Ash of KG Dynasty, Streetz of Get Ryte Ent., Kid Cuba of Get Down Gang, Hannah Wintrode of Katalyst Crew & ABDC Season 6 winners The Poreotics, to name a few.
MUSIC
Don't forget to checkout the debut album, The Mind of Quinn. His first project as a solo musician, collaborating with alternative sound manipulators known as Tensor. Visit Mario Quinn's music page now to hear the new sounds.
Learn more at www.marioquinn.com