We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kaylin Horgan. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kaylin below.

Alright, Kaylin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I think balance is the key to success. To be just as prepared as you are willing to adapt. When to push myself with hard work and knowing when to rest.

I’m realizing the more I grow, that most things in life are not in our control, but I find power in prayer, manifestations and alone moments with myself to fully envision myself stepping into my dreams and purposes. I create a vision board the first day of every year. I make a visual of all the goals I have for that year and place it at my bedside. It becomes my daily reminder of how I see myself in its fullest capacity.

It’s astonishing to me how many of those goals I have been able to achieve over the years. If I can see it, half of the battle is won.

One of my biggest influences is one of my best friends, Vanessa German. She is an incredible artist that I have known since I was 18 years olds (google her!!). One day I was expressing my frustrations of the dance industry to her. I explained that I was burning out because in order to do my craft, I needed 3 other jobs to support myself. (This is a reality that so many dancers experience.) Her advice to me, based off of her own experience, was to stop spending energy on the things that I felt supported me so I could do my craft… just do the thing itself until my craft supported me. She is a breathing example of this lifestyle. It takes so much courage and faith to take that leap. To trust that your purpose will carry you… but what else is worth that kind of risk?

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Kaylin Horgan and I am a Pittsburgh native. I graduated from both Pittsburgh CAPA and Point Park University.

At age 14, I became the youngest founding member of the Pillow Project (Pearlann Porter) where I completed two European tours dancing along side local jazz musicians. I was also a founding member of the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble (Pittsburgh, PA) for 6 seasons and a dancer for Wylliams Henry Contemporary (Kansas City, MO) for 5 seasons.

I am currently proud member of AntonioBrownDance, and have been dancing nationally and internationally beside 5 time Grammy Award winner, Esperanza Spalding, since June of 2022.

My choreography has been seen at The DUMBO Dance Festival, The Space Upstairs, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, The Junior Theater Festival (Moana Jr. pilot) The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Wylliams Henry Contemporary Dance Company, Point Park University’s Summer Dance, Hamilton, Bermuda and The Hague, Netherlands.

In April of 2021, despite the limitations of the pandemic, I premiered my first full length musical, Milton, at the New Hazlett Theater in Pittsburgh, which one Best Virtual Production of 2021 by Pittsburgh’s City Paper.

I am currently teaching dance at Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 during the school year and Tri- C Arts Academy during the summer session where I love guiding young artists with the same dream I had at that age.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

The pandemic felt like a death sentence for the dance industry. As a dancer just reaching my 30s, with no access to conditioning during that time, I had to come to terms with the possibility that I would never return to a stage if and when studios and theaters would reopen.

I decided to lean into other parts of myself that I never had the time to tap into. I started painting, writing, spending more time in nature, reading new books.

I ending up writing an entire play and it was produced on a virtual stage.

I learned that sometimes limitations are opportunities for new avenues that you didn’t think existed .

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe patience, kindness, resilience and faith go a long way.
Sometimes you have to just show up places and be as fully and presently “you”.

Contact Info:

• Website: Kaylinhorgan.com
• Instagram: @kaylin1horgan

Image Credits
Mike Strong, Paris Jessie, Dale Dong