Dance is an artform that combines the human body with movement. It can convey complex emotions and communicate elaborate stories with or without the enhancement of words or music. Since the dawn of humanity, whether for ritual function or pure pleasure, dance has been a part of our universal expression of life. When KMAC showcases how the world of dance can influence its annual runway of wearable art on April 10, 2027, the museum will also join in celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Louisville Ballet. Filled with centuries of entry points for inspiring a work of wearable art, the dance floor continues to be one of humankind’s most liberated and free spaces to connect with what it means to be in sync with the world and each other. Submissions can be inspired by ballet, ballroom, or pop music, but designs can expand well beyond classical styles and musical genres. This year’s theme is also about how dance can inform and add to our experience of music and the way we move through time and space. Clothing and fabric can be used to reflect the ways that music and dance come together, primarily through the foundational principles of movement and rhythm. Combining the flow of a material like silk or chiffon with a body in motion creates sweeping gestures that connect with musical acts like the sustained fluid action of a bow over the strings of a violin, or a glissando across a piano. Rhythm can be conveyed through the fabric or design itself using repeated patterns and shapes or a sequence of colors that when worn can create a kinetic visual experience. It’s often thought that people with better rhythm also spend more time outside, improving not only their circadian rhythms but their connection to musical rhythms as well. The ballroom or dance club is a place where people come together to merge music and movement. Whether in a coordinated program of steps or a freeform expression of bodies moving through space, dance is a celebration of life that connects us to the harmonies and rhythms of nature and shared human cultures.From the fox trot and the waltz of the ballroom to the lindy hop and Charleston of Jazz dance, the traditions associated with these styles have dress codes and standards for participation. Latin, hip hop, modern and classical ballet, and the traditional dances from across Europe, Africa and Asia all have their own distinct characteristics. Design submissions can explore bold and adventurous approaches to reinvigorating the more common costumes associated with the core genres of dance. From the robot dance, top-rocking, and body rolls, to line dancing and the zombie walk, how we express ourselves through musical movement is constantly evolving. Dance crazes have altered how we dress in our everyday lives. Choreography has helped shape our identity as much as any other form of expression. While the rules for attire are meant to be updated and sometimes broken, the garments worn by dancers performing professionally, as well as for recreation, are the inspiration for Art Walks the Runway in 2027. Joey Yates, Curatorial Director, KMAC Contemporary Art Museum