WHO WE ARE

TY&CO is a contemporary dance company based in Austin, Texas, led by Artistic Director Ty Graynor. Our mission is to nurture creativity by building work and immersive dance experiences that explore the full range of human athleticism and emotion. TY&CO blends classical influences with experimental contemporary styles, honoring the legacies of historic dance figures while engaging with modern themes. Our work aims to illuminate stories deeply rooted in the human psyche, allowing dancers and audience members to transcend personal barriers and embrace their innate sovereignty. We work to evoke an environment where presence, contemplation, and boundless joy flourish.

We believe that dance is a powerful medium for personal and collective reflection, inspiring audiences to rediscover their own narratives and engage more deeply with the world around them. Through our performances and community outreach, we strive to make art accessible and relatable, bridging the gap between the art world and everyday life, and highlighting the innate connections we share.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

TY GRAYNOR

Ty Graynor, originally from Huntington, New York, received his BFA in Dance from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford, where he studied under Nina Watt, Miki Orihara, Stephen Pier, and Doug Varone. At The Hartt School, he performed works by influential choreographers such as Martha Graham, José Limón, and Doris Humphrey.

Following his studies, Ty advanced his training at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and joined Graham 2 as a Company Dancer. In 2019, he joined the Limón Dance Company as both a performing and teaching artist, contributing to the creation of contemporary works like “Suite Donuts” by Chafin Seymour, “Only One Will Rise” by Olivier Tarpaga, and “Migrant Mother/Madre Migrante” by Raúl Tamez.
While being part of the José Limón Dance Foundation, he was able to share his passion for the Limón technique through various avenues, including being a resident teaching artist for Limón4Kids in NYC Public Schools, leading pre-professional and professional workshops through organizations such as Perry Mansfield, the University of Minnesota, and the Hartford Dance Collective, and teaching repertoire for the students of the Limón Institute.

In 2021, he founded Making Space Workshop, an online dance workshop that brought together teaching artists from the Limón Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, and more. This initiative aimed to share a wide range of techniques and movement disciplines with students from around the world in response to lockdowns and social isolation.


Currently based in Austin, Texas, Ty teaches regular classes in the Limón technique and contemporary dance forms. Alongside directing and dancing in TY&CO, he also performs with Peter Stathas Dance, Ventana Ballet, Red Nightfall Dance Theatre, and Sea Legs Dance. Beginning in 2023, Ty has commissioned four new contemporary works for Ventana Ballet for their annual spring concert "KALEIDOSCOPE" and is in the process of co-creating a new original ballet with artistic director AJ Garcia-Rameau, set to premiere in 2024. He most recently brought to life a full evening-length work, "From Inferno to Americana," in November 2023 under the project TY&CO. Additionally, Ty serves as the Development Lead at the East Side incubator of dance, First Street Studio, where he produces shows and connects the community by hosting a variety of events and classes.

Repertoire

  • Inhibition

    "Inhibition" explores the nuanced interplay between voluntary and involuntary restraints on instinctual expression. The piece delves into the complexities of navigating societal norms and personal authenticity through a tableau of a “scene of a club.”

    Crafted in collaboration with Daniel Louis White, a distinguished composer and tenor saxophonist from Austin, Texas, "Inhibition" merges his innovative musicality with the raw energy of contemporary dance.

    We live in a world, battling a bound social currency. Does our inhibition keep us safe, or does it bring us further away from the spirit we are dying to be.

  • Evolve and Travel

    Commissioned in 2023 for Ventana Ballet’s spring concert, KALEIDOSCOPE, alongside Austin Camerata and Invoke String Quartet, the piece is a journey through change, connection, and brotherhood.

    Most recently performed at Austin Dance Festival (2024)

  • Americana

    Drawing upon the profound themes found in rural American society, we reimagine a new world inspired by the landscapes, relationships, and resilience of a life steeped in simplicity and connection. In 'Americana,' we find a bold affirmation of life's simplest truths and a call to rediscover the richness and potential embedded in our shared experiences.

  • Inferno

    “Inferno” is a 20 minute solo work performed by Ty Graynor inspired by Dante's Inferno. Set to Franz Liszt's Dante Symphony, this piece explores themes of temptation, resilience, desire, and the inner conflict associated with facing the unknown.

  • WALL

    Created for Ventana Ballet's spring concert, KALEIDOSCOPE, in 2023, in collaboration with Austin Camerata and Invoke String Quartet, this piece draws inspiration from the 2012 Austrian-German film "The Wall," written and directed by Julian Pölsler. Titled "WALL," the dance delves into the complex interplay between freedom and restriction, examining the terror of confinement while uncovering the liberation that can be found within it.

  • Lift

    Commissioned for Ventana Ballet's spring concert, KALEIDOSCOPE, in 2023 and performed in collaboration with Austin Camerata and Invoke String Quartet, this piece is a vibrant quartet that explores the themes of elevation and the unveiling of the joyful spirit nestled within the human form. It serves as an homage to the enduring principles of José Limón, infused with a lively, folk-inspired flair.

  • Bound

    A duet commissioned by Ventana Ballet & Austin Camerata to be performed May 23-25 at KALEIDOSCOPE at KFMA Austin

    The impetus for this piece roots from one of the deepest and most uncontrollable relationships one can witness in their life, their parents.

    It serves as a tableau of love and pain and surrender.

  • The Way of Light

    Deeply inspired by the principles of José Limón, this trio explores the feeling of light. How it changes your state of being, how it reflects more beauty onto its subjects and brings the most mundane to life.

  • Korn

    In this darkly humorous tale, a farmer's obsession with his crop leads to a surreal metamorphosis. As his passion for corn consumes him, he becomes what he tends – only to find himself transformed from harvester to harvest. Set to the industrial pulse of Korn's music, this series of vignettes explores the cyclical nature of addiction, where the hunter inevitably becomes the hunted.


    First premiered at Dance Carousel 2024 at Ground Floor Theatre in Austin, Texas. Photo by Corey Haynes.

  • The Smoke Show Cabaret

    The Smoke Show Cabaret is an immersive, vintage-inspired performance experience where TY&CO’s dancers bring a bold blend of theatricality, jazz, and contemporary movement to life. Set in a 1930s cabaret ambiance, this dynamic, interactive show unfolds in intimate venues, inviting audiences to step back in time with sultry dance numbers and atmospheric storytelling. The Smoke Show bridges classic cabaret charm with TY&CO’s modern, boundary-pushing style.

    Photo by Kyon Butterfield

UPCOMING

The Barefoot Ball - First Street Studio, November 16 (TX)

DUSK: An Evening of Film & Dance - Lone Star Light House, November 20 (TX)

{254}DANCEFEST - MCC Ball Performing Arts Center, January 12-14 (TX)

What Remains (World Premiere) - dadaLab, January 24-25 (TX)

Support Our Mission

Through TY&CO, our mission is to nurture creativity and technical mastery. We aim to evolve into a part-time company model, providing daily training to our artists during residency periods, performances, and tours. Our work honors the foundational elements of technical training while illuminating the stories deeply rooted in the human psyche. We create art with the intention of liberating individuals, allowing them to transcend personal barriers and embrace their innate sovereignty.

Become a supporter of TY&CO for the 2024/25 Season as we develop new projects, gear up for big productions, create new dance films, and spread our message to the Austin community and beyond.

Support the CO

Support our mission by contributing a donation.

From Inferno to Americana

November 17-19, 2023

“The sweat on Graynor was less than that on every member of the audience, each of us clutching something tiny to our hearts.”

— David Glen Robinson of CTX Live Theatre

Thank you to everyone who supported our project, "From Inferno to Americana," bringing together 9 local Austin dance artists into two contrasting worlds, “Inferno” and “Americana” through the powerful language of dance. This project began early in 2023 with a hunger to create something powerful and representative of the human experience. With your support and interest, we were able to sell out every show! From Inferno to Americana marked the official exposition of TY&CO.

Contact us.

tygraynor@gmail.com

(347) 351-7084

Austin, TX