In just the last few years, contemporary choreographer Kyle Abraham has picked up a MacArthur genius? award, received stunning reviews for his ballet for 2018 premiered by New York City Ballet (his first ballet and NYCB's first work by an African-American choreographer in a decade), been a visiting professor at UCLA, and created works for American Ballet Theater's Misty Copeland and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, among other commissions. Such recent awards and adventures have brought to a wider public to Abraham's distinctive, often sly, blending of hip-hop and contemporary dance that began and continues with his own company A.I.M. (Abraham.In.Motion.).

The company plays are a not-to-be missed visit this week. The three Abraham works include Drive (2017) drawing on house music, The Quiet Dance (2011) set to Bill Evans' jazz rendition of Some Other Time, and the solo Show Pony (2018) which provides a homecoming for the L.A.-born soloist Marcella Lewis. The company also pays homage to modern dance legend Trisha Brown with her Solo Olos (1976).

Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts, Cal State University Long Beach, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach; Sat., Jan. 25, 8 p.m., $55. carpenterarts.org.