Torens Johnson (Smithfield, Virginia) completed the dance certificate program at The Ailey School and performed nationally and internationally with Ailey II. Mr. Johnson received his BFA from Towson University and served as a dance educator for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Paseo Academy High School, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School, and Friends School of Baltimore. He taught dance at AileyCamp for many years, and in 2021, he became the AileyCamp National Deputy Director. He has worked as a freelance educator and choreographer for Anne Arundel Community College, George Mason University, Morgan State University, and numerous educational institutions. His performing credits include ClancyWorks Dance Company, Stephanie Powell DansEnsemble, Edgeworks Dance Theater, Tony Powell Music & Movement, and Wylliams/Henry Dance Theater. In 2020, Mr. Johnson completed his MFA at Wilson College, and he currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Dance at Texas State University.

Tyrone Aiken (Amityville, New York) is the Chief Artistic Officer for Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey and serves as the AileyCamp Missouri Director for 2023. He is a graduate of The Ailey School with a Certificate in Dance and an MFA in Dance from Hollins University. Tyrone has danced with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Jubilations!, Blue Mercury, and Ethos… a dance theater company. He has choreographed for Virginia Johnson and the Dance Theater of Harlem Ensemble. He is a member of the African American Artist Collective and serves on the Municipal Arts Commission. His awards include the Pinnacle Award for Arts Excellence, the Neighborhood Hero Award from Bank of America, and the Robert A. and Dr. Phyllis Bernstein Humanitarian Award from the Jewish Family and Children Services Kansas City. This is Tyrone’s 30th year with AileyCamp.

Markeyta Young (Kansas City, MO) is the education programs coordinator for Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey. She is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University with a BS in rhetoric communications and theater.  Markeyta is also an actress and has worked with many theatres in the Kansas City Metro area. This is Markeyta’s first year with AileyCamp.

Kordie Marsenburg (Kansas City, Missouri) holds a Master’s of Social Work. She is a seasoned mental health professional with experience in clinical, primary care, and school settings. Kordie has a diverse background of teaching experience in middle school, high school, and college. She also has many years of experience working in the community with individuals and families. Kordie enjoys what she does and looks forward to working at camp this summer. This is Kordie’s second year with AileyCamp.

Michelle Beasley (Kansas City, Missouri) truly appreciates all the people, places, and things to do in our City of Fountains. She is an accomplished self-taught artist, that is also a certified Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) active to practice in 29 states. She has a B.A. in business administration, a Master’s in health administration, and a Master’s in urban education. Her shift from healthcare to education came from a passion and joy for learning. She is the K-5 Visual Arts Teacher at Crossroads Central Street. Her classroom atmosphere is one of imagination and creativity for each student that passes through her space. As an artist, Michelle utilizes and is competent in working in a variety of mediums; charcoal, watercolor, acrylic, plaster, and oil. She is also an award-winning photographer. Michelle’s strongest inspiration comes from her loving husband & fellow artist, J. Leroy. This is Michelle’s first year with AileyCamp.  

Courtney Collado (New York, New York) is a professional dancer, choreographer, and Master Pilates instructor. She has trained at the Colorado Ballet (Denver, Colorado), Boston Ballet (Boston, Massachusetts), Walnut Hill School for the Arts (Natick, Massachusetts), Contra Costa Ballet (Walnut Creek, California), Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble (Denver, Colorado), and Jacob’s Pillow (Lee, Massachusetts). She holds a BFA in dance from New York University and a MFA in dance performance from Hollins University. Ms. Collado has danced professionally with companies in New York City, New York; Denver, Colorado; Topeka, Kansas; and KCFAA’s Setting the Stage. She currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri. Ms. Collado operates a small corrective movement practice within the medical practice, Health Studio KC. In January 2020, Courtney completed a course of study in pedagogy at the Zurich University of the Arts in Switzerland with Naomi Perlov, Director of the Maslool—Bikurey Ha’Itim in Tel Aviv, Israel. Ms. Collado is thrilled to take the stage with KCFAA again. This is Courtney’s second year with AileyCamp.

Morgan Freeman-Vample (Kansas City, Missouri) is a professional dancer and choreographer. Morgan began her training at the age of five in African Dance. Morgan continued her dance training at Kansas City Middle School of the Arts and studied with the McFadden Brothers. Morgan also studied modern, jazz, ballet, and tap at AileyCamp and joined AileyCamp The Group. Morgan matriculated to Lincoln Middle of the Fine and Performing Arts, graduating with a 3.75 GPA. Morgan’s professional dance experiences include Owen/Cox Dance Group, Weirdo Dance Crew, local legend Tech N9ne and Strange Music Entertainment. Morgan is excited about hip-hop and feels inspired when she shares what she loves about high heels dance. Moving freely and connecting with others is the reason she became a choreographer and instructor. She is passionate about learning and teaching others through dance. This is Morgan’s third year as an instructor with AileyCamp.

Theodore “Priest” Hughes (Kansas City, Missouri) is a professional spoken word performance artist, teaching artist, actor, and community advocate for over 25 years. He has been a creative communication teacher with AileyCamp helping to create a safe haven for young people to express themselves, find their voice, and most importantly, be heard. This is Theodore’s 10th year at AileyCamp.

Marcus Johnson (Chicago, Illinois) was introduced to dance through the New Life Covenant Church Southeast dance ministry. He later began his formal training at Hubbard Street Dance and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, where he received his most influential training under the tutelage of Nicole Clarke-Springer and Jessica Miller-Tomlinson. He has performed with companies including Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Hubbard Street Dance, and The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. He has also danced in popular musicals in Chicago including Testimony with Mahdi Theater Co. and Black Nativity with Congo Square Theater Co. Mr. Johnson is currently a senior student at the Conservatory for Dance at the University of Missouri Kansas-City. This is Marcus’s third year with AileyCamp.

Toinette Evelyn Tamayo (Kansas City, Missouri) is a third-generation dancer. She was trained by her mother, Evelyn Lee. Ms. Lee is an important part of dance history in Kansas City as a member of the Ebony Dancers and the Slick Chicks. She also studied dance at UMKC with Tatiana Douvadusku and in New York with Dance Educators of America and Dance Masters. Ms. Tamayo is considered the first African American female with the Kansas City Ballet and performed Alvin Ailey’s Memoria. Ms. Tamayo has taught all forms of dance throughout the greater Kansas City area including KCPS. She taught dance for Kansas City Parks and Recreation for 20 years and formed the Dance Revolution, a competitive dance team. Ms. Tamayo’s awards include Best Choreography from Dance America Dance Competition and International Dance Challenge Dance Competition, as well as the Kindest Kansas Citian award. This is Toinette’s third year with AileyCamp.

AuJanai Hawkins (Kansas City, Missouri) is a senior BFA dance major at Southeast Missouri State University. She trained in KCFAA’s Studio program from the second through 12th grade. AuJanai attended Ailey Camp in 2012 and was part of AileyCamp the Group. She has been dancing for more than 15 years. This is her third year as a group leader at AileyCamp.

Dai Raine Mckinney (Kansas City, Missouri) is enrolled at Penn Valley Community College. She attended AileyCamp in 2015 and was part of AileyCamp the Group from 2016 through 2020. Dai loves drawing, painting, writing, and dancing. She is in the process of reconnecting to her art as a practice and is excited to return to AileyCamp. This is Dai’s third year with AileyCamp.

Aliena Patton (Olathe, Kansas) is currently a sophomore at Howard University, majoring in political science and double minoring in dance arts and sports administration. She has a passion for dance and started dancing at age three. Aliena trained at the Crescendo Conservatory, taking ballet, jazz, and modern classes. She also performed with the Olathe North Eaglettes, a varsity dance team, for four years and was captain her senior year. This is Aliena’s first year with AileyCamp.