Tyrone Aiken, Chief Artistic Officer for Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey is a Choreographer, teacher, dancer, and arts administrator. He is a graduate of the Ailey School’s Certificate Program in 1983. Tyrone began his professional dance career with the Cleo Parker Dance Ensemble in 1983. Tyrone’s choreographic credits include “Summerland” commissioned by Dance Theater of Harlem’s Virginia Johnson. In Kansas City Tyrone has choreographed for The Lyric Opera, The Coterie Theater, The KC Symphony, Wylliams/Henry Dance Theatre, KC Ballet, the KC Rep, and the Nelson Atkins Museum. Tyrone created AileyCamp the Group in 1995, Setting the Stage in 1997 and a second AileyCamp serving Kansas in 2000. He successfully launched KCFAA’s move to the Jazz District in 2007 and lead KCFAA through a strategic plan with Michael Kaiser creating a new Festival and Symposium series. Tyrone received a Pinnacle Award for Arts excellence from the Johnson County Library, Neighborhood Hero Award from Bank of America, the Robert A. and Dr. Phyllis Bernstein Humanitarian Award from the Jewish Family and Children Services and traveled to the White House to accept the Coming Up Taller award presented to KCFAA for AileyCamp. Tyrone is a member of the African American Artist Collective of Kansas City Missouri, Kansas City Municipal Arts Commission, and received an MFA in dance from Hollins University in 2020. This is Tyrone’s 29^th year with KCFAA and 27^th year with Setting the Stage.

AuJanai Hawkins is from Kansas City, Missouri and holds a BFA in dance from Southeast Missouri State University. She started dancing over 15 years ago at Caruther’s Creative Center and continued her training at Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey from 2nd-12th grade. There she was trained in ballet, modern, and jazz. While at Southeast Missouri State University she furthered her training in ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, improv, and choreography. Currently she is a dance teacher at several studios in the Kansas City area.

Holly Jones grew up in St. Louis, MO and trained in ballet, modern, contemporary, and jazz styles at Dayspring Arts and Education from 2008-2022. During her time at Dayspring, she performed in many ballet productions such as Sleeping Beauty, Napoli, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, and more. She is currently a third year Dance Major at University of Missouri-Kansas City where she will earn a BFA in dance performance and choreography as well as a minor in business. During her time at UMKC she has performed in works by DeeAnna Hiett, Gary Abbott, Tempe Ostergren, Michael Blake, Ronald Tice, Christine Burton, and guest artist Christopher Huggins.

Abram McNeal started tumbling, taking jazz and hip-hop dance at Caruther’s Creative Center at the age of 7. Due to a running injury during his senior year in high school he began taking adult dance classes at Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey. He continued his training in both ballet and modern dance at UMKC. He has trained at the Ailey School in New York City on a scholarship. Abram has danced with Lulu Washington Studio in Los Angeles, performed Mr. Ailey’s “Memoria” with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater company, and Setting the Stage with KCFAA. He has also choreographed and performed at pageants for artists in Kansas City.

Ashley Nunez is originally from Kansas City, Missouri. She trained in ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, and musical theatre at the Pulse Performing Arts Center for 10 years. She is a junior at the University of Missouri-Kansas City pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and choreography with an equal emphasis in ballet and modern. At UMKC, Ashley has performed in works by DeeAnna Hiett and Christina Burton and has collaborated with renowned guest artists Christopher Huggins and Christian Denice.

Jairus Poole, a native of Kansas City, Missouri, began dancing at the age of 10. He is currently attending The University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory (UMKC), majoring in dance, and studying with Professors DeeAnna Hiett, Christina Burton, Tobin James, Tempe Ostergren, Ronald Tice, Michael Blake, and Gary Abbott. Jairus graduated from The Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts where he studied with Paula Chappell-Lang. Jarius has trained in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Musical Theater. He has had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Nicole Clarke-Springer, Latra Wilson, Christopher Huggins, Elaina Paige, Winston Dynamite Brown, and others. This will be his third year working as the assistant dance coach of the Southeast Excalibur Dance Team.

Tripp Starr is a dynamic and versatile performer with experience in dance, acting and modeling. Currently training at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Dance Conservatory, Tripp specializes in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, ballet, and liturgical dance. Tripp is committed to continuous growth, pushing his physical and artistic boundaries in every performance. Tripp has honed his craft through intensive training at UMKC, Kansas City Ballet, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, and much more. With a solid foundation in technique and a love for performance, Tripp has had the opportunity to work with esteemed choreographers, including Christopher Huggins, Gary Abbott, DeeAnna Hiett, Tempe Ostergren, Christina Burton, Lonell Phillips, Cleo Parker Robinson, and more. Beyond the stage, Tripp has worked on commercial and film projects, including his most recent supporting role in a feature film; Lifetime’s Girl In The Garage: The Laura Cowan Story.