Tyrone Aiken (Amityville NY) is the Chief Artistic Officer for Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey. He is a choreographer, teacher, dancer, and arts administrator. Tyrone is a graduate of the Ailey School’s Certificate Program in 1983 and a 2020 MFA in Dance graduate from Hollins University. 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 Symposium series. It is through that series that Tyrone reaffirmed his commitment to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in the arts and our society.

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. He served on the Kansas City Parks board from 2007 to 2011 and the Municipal Arts Commission from 2007 to 2011, and 2017, and 2024. Tyrone is a member of the African American Artist Collective of Kansas City Missouri. This is Tyrone’s 31st year with Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey.

AuJanai Hawkins is a 25-year-old dancer born and raised in Kansas City, MO with a BFA in dance from Southeast Missouri State University. She started dancing over 15 years ago at Caruther’s Studio of Dance 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. She has now been a dance teacher in the Kansas City area for three years.

Jordyn Hunt, 18, is a dedicated and accomplished dancer with nine years of experience as a national competitive performer. She is currently a student at the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory, where she continues to refine her artistry and technical training. Jordyn is a former student of Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey and has performed with both

KCFAA and the Owens Cox Dance Group. Her performance background reflects a strong foundation in discipline, versatility, and a passion for expressive movement.

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. She has also had the opportunity to participate in seasonal workshops such as the Link Audition Festival at Salt Contemporary Dance, and GagaLab NYC with Ohad Naharin.

Abram McNeal Born and raised in Kansas City Missouri, McNeal was introduced to modern dance in 2012 after a running injury, with his participation in AileyCamp the Group. After months of training, he auditioned for the UMKC conservatory where he continued training in modern and ballet. He has performed with Lula Washington dance studio in California and participated in UMKC’s collaborative production of Memoria with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In 2016 he was cast in Setting the Stage for the first time. In 2017 he performed his first solo in Setting the Stage. Shortly after, he auditioned for the Ailey School Summer Intensive in New York City, where he received a full scholarship to attend. He then participated in the Ailey School’s 3-year independent program. From there he continued his dance career providing choreography for drag artists and dancing for pageant contestants: 2022 Miss Gay America; 2024 Mr. And Mrs. Continental; and 2025 Entertainer of the Year. In 2025 he also worked with California choreographer, HYM and danced with Bob the Drag Queen for ATL Pride in Atlanta, GA.

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 under 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. He has trained in ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop, and musical theater. Jairus appears as a guest artist with Storling Dance Theater in their 2025 production of Underground and with Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey in their 2025 production of Setting the Stage.

He helped lead the Southeast Excalibur Dance Team to make history in 2025 by becoming the first Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) spirit squad to compete on a national level. He was also awarded the 2024–2025 KCPS Assistant Coach of the Year.

Jairus has had the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers such as Nicole Clarke-Springer, Latra Wilson, Christopher Huggins, Elaina Paige, Winston Dynamite Brown, and others. This marks his fourth year as assistant dance coach of the Southeast Excalibur Dance Team.

Jairus attended AileyCamp in 2016 and participated in its 2018–2019 summer dance program. This will be his fourth year working with AileyCamp.

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 has honed his craft through intensive training at UMKC, Kansas City Ballet, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, and much more. With a strong foundation in technique and a love for performance, Tripp has had the opportunity to work with esteemed choreographers, including Christopher Huggins, Gary Abbott, Pat Taylor (Jazz Antiqua), DeeAnna Heitt, Tempe Ostergren, Christina Burton, Lonell Phillips, Cleo Parker Robinson, and more. Beyond the stage, Tripp has worked in commercial and film projects, including his most recent supporting role in a feature film; Lifetime’s Girl in The Garage: The Laura Cowan Story. Nevertheless, Tripp is committed to continuous growth, pushing his physical and artistic boundaries in every performance.