Greater Pittsburgh Region
Mario Quinn Lyles, a native of Buffalo NY, currently living in Pittsburgh PA has had a passion for the arts since the age of 5. As he grew and experienced new things, he found his true calling and fulfillment in Dance Instruction, Music (Hip-Hop), and Visual Arts. Lyles recently studied at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, majoring in Media Arts & Animation. After a few years he managed to achieve a Bachelors of Science degree, with a focus in 3D Modeling and Motion Graphics, in 2009. While in school Mario started learning and teaching hip hop dance, there he started the very first "Hip Hop Dance Club" and taught at various dance studio's including, Pittsburgh Heat and Evolve Dance Complex in Cranberry Twp. Currently he works as Studio Manager and Teaching Artist at The Kelly Strayhorn Theatre. In the past Lyles has served as Part- time Production Assistant at Emmy Award winning facility Ya Momz House, LLC and Hip Hop Educator/ Mentor at Hip Hop On L.O.C.K. Amongst other creative ventures, Lyles is the founder of Markav Clothing Inc., an urban apparel company based out of Pittsburgh, PA. and Level Up Studios. Lyles holds a residency at Local 412 and is a fellow of Kelly Strayhorn Theater's Penn Ave Creative. [email protected] Specialties: Fashion Illustration, 3D Sculpting, Advertising/Media/Graphic Design, Video & Audio Editing, Song Writing, and Hip Hop Dance Instruction.
A great neighborhood deserves a great theater. That’s the cornerstone of Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST). Named for two of Pittsburgh’s most celebrated talents in the last century—dancer Gene Kelly and composer Billy Strayhorn—KST contributes to the renaissance of East Liberty and redefines theater with provocative, original programming and a social experience unlike any other venue in the region. KST is celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2014–2015, a time to reflect on our role in the vibrant and diverse cultural history of Pittsburgh’s East Liberty. The Kelly Strayhorn Theater is a destination for innovative works in dance, theater, music and live art. KST encourages diverse, inclusive, and high-quality, artistic, cultural and educational activities through the Alloy School, artSEEDS student matinees, and artist residency programs. By nurturing these pursuits, we contribute to cultural understanding, quality of life, as well as economic development in our community, county, city, and region.
"The Creative Playground for the Collaborative Culture" Level Up Studios is a creative arts studio that offers Dance Instruction, Design & Creative Writing Services, and Urban Apparel under one roof. Inspired by hip hop culture, Level Up celebrates it’s positive roots and serves as a creative playground for artists and enthusiasts. Level Up Studios is a community resource that offers innovative ways to engage youth and adults along the Penn Ave corridor. Through our retail shop, design center and dance studio, you can purchase clothing, receive graphic design services and expand your knowledge of dance or creative writing while enjoying a unique experience with people of like interests. Level Up Studios also operates a nonprofit summer youth program, in partnership with Sons of the Boogie, known as The Zelda Pito Emerging Artist Fellowship. The Zelda Pito Emerging Artist Fellowship is a 3 week summer intensive designed to use storytelling, dance, poetry, graphic design, emceeing, and creative writing to explore identity construction and the concept of home among Pittsburgh area public high school students. Students will engage in critical dialogues with their cohort, artists, and social change leaders, develop professional networks, participate in group and individual mentoring sessions, and receive support and resources to create new artwork. The 3 week program is broken into 3 developmental levels:, Learn to create, Create to empower, Empower to change. Each student will complete the 3 levels centered around their module of choice (dance, graphic design, creative writing, poetry). Fellows will have the end goal of creating and applying a successful product/ project which will be used as experience and portfolio work toward a desired career. check us out on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/levelupdancestudio
Money And Riches Kill All Visions. Markav is a lifestyle brand, with the sole purpose of spreading a positive message to wake up the masses. We are a clothing brand that puts creativity, style and culture before capitalism. If you support what we're about, join the shift @ http://www.markavclothing.com Markav Clothing Company's mission is to provide young adult males and females with a new and fresh clothing style that reflects the individuality of the consumer. To design and create apparel that births self satisfaction and appreciation for styles unique. MarKav Clothing Co. "Passion Over Profit"™ follow us on IG: @markavclothing
Hip Hop On L.O.C.K. is one of Greater Pittsburgh's premier mentoring and arts education programs. The program shows the ability to identify and connect with youths ages 8-18, and teaches relevant life-long skills such as Leadership development, Organizational skills in addition to Cooperative economics and Knowledge of the music business that can be applied to everyday situations as well as math, science and literacy. Hip Hop On L.O.C.K. is designed so that students come together to form a mock record label charged with creating a music CD from conception to completion. To make this CD a reality, each student holds an executive position in the label and they work together to write, produce, record, mix master and develop their project. Throughout the program the students are involved in intense workshops like Math in the Music, Sonic Science and Unlock that utilize English skills that go into creating quality music. They interact with professional artists such as DJs, MCs, Break dancers and Graffiti artists that provide the historic components of Hip-hop. Upon completion of the program, students have a graduation ceremony where they not only receive certificates of completion, but where they share their work with their friends, families and the community through a live performance. As a result of Hip Hop On L.O.C.K., students will have gained a full understanding of the art of Hip Hop as well as the entry-level skills needed to operate a business of their own.
Established in 2001, Ya Momz House, LLC is a 1400 sq ft. state-of-the-art, Emmy Award-winning full service recording facility. With pride, we offer superior quality, engineering with integrity and a never wavering commitment to customer service. With over 15 years of experience, we strive to develop a solid, professional relationship with each of our clients both nationally and locally that will produce lasting benefits that will surpass all recording expectations. Our studios are housed with Class A technology such as Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Avalon and Neumann to maintain and enhance the highest sonic results possible.