AileyCamp Final Performances July 6 & 7

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Since its inception, AileyCamp, a program offered through Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA), has impacted the lives of more than 5,000 youth in the Greater Kansas City area. The program is celebrating 30 years of inspiring and educating youth and is getting ready for their final performances next month.

“Celebrating 30 years of AileyCamp is a true testament to the need in our communities. We are filling that need by providing inspiration and education to kids with social, domestic and academic challenges,” said KCFAA Chief Artistic Director Tyrone Aiken. “We are proud to honor the late Alvin Ailey’s vision of bringing the best in arts education to students across the U.S.”

AileyCamp is a six-week summer day camp that introduces students to the physical and mental elements of dance. Through dance education, campers increase their leadership skills and enjoy a variety of athletic and social activities. They learn that dance is challenging, fun, and helps them in school, in sports and in life!

From day one, campers work toward an end-of-season presentation that highlights everything they learned, including that the arts require discipline, focus, flexibility and acceptance.

Come out to support AileyCamp at one or both of their final performances!

Friday, July 6
11:00 a.m.
Washburn University, White Concert Hall
1700 SW College Ave, Topeka, KS 66621
Saturday, July 7
6:00 p.m.
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108
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AileyCamp Hosts Open House

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We are so excited to welcome guests to AileyCamp this year.  Today, we toured Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts and watched the kids and their instructors in action.

AileyCamp is celebrating 30 YEARS and we can’t continue to provide this inspirational and educational youth program without the support of our community, local companies and dedicated individuals.

AileyCamp is a six-week summer day camp that introduces students to the physical and mental elements of dance. Through dance education, campers increase their leadership skills and enjoy a variety of athletic and social activities. They learn that dance is challenging, fun, and helps them in school, in sports and in life!

This type of programming can be crucial to closing education gaps. By sixth grade, students in middle-income families receive more than 4,000 hours of afterschool and summer learning than students in low-income families. Each year, 100 boys and girls in Missouri and 100 boys and girls in Kansas are selected to attend AileyCamp for free (a $1,275 value per camper).  The cost is covered by KCFAA thanks to cash and in-kind donations from corporations, foundations, government agencies, community groups and individuals.

AileyCamp participants receive breakfast, lunch and daily dance classes — along with dance attire, dance shoes and a dance bag — as well as other creative communication instruction, such as spoken word, creative writing, visual arts, percussion or theater classes.

In case you missed today’s open house, another one is scheduled tomorrow.  Check out the videos of today’s event!  And don’t forget to mark your calendars for the AileyCamp final performances July 6 & 7!

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday June 6

West Middle School

2600 N 44th St., Kansas City, KS 66104

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KCFAA Summer Dance Intensive in Full Swing

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Not sure what the summer dance intensive is all about?  Check out the talent in this video!

Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey conducts a 4-week summer dance intensive in partnership with the Kansas City Public Schools for students in grades 9-12 that focuses on ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop dance technique classes, and yoga classes in addition to dance repertory classes. Students participate in two technique classes daily in addition to learning choreography for a performance at the end of the session.

Stay tuned for details on their final performance!

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