KCFAA kicks off Paseo Dance Residencies with Latra Wilson

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UPDATE: Due to weather related travel issues, the Modern Dance Master Class featuring Latra Wilson has been rescheduled for Monday, December 3rd.  Additional details can be found here.

Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey is excited to conduct three two-week residencies throughout the 2018/2019 school year.  In partnership with Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) and the Missouri Arts Council, this is the eighth year of providing youth with the opportunity to learn from experienced teaching artists.  Latra Wilson is this year’s first of three teaching artists to teach and choreograph for students in the dance department.  Her program focuses on Jazz dance technique.

The Paseo residency, with support from KCPS and the Missouri Arts Council, is designed to bring professional performing-teaching artists to Paseo Academy.  Artists coming to our programs have a passion for and commitment to urban high school populations. They serve as role models for students by helping them realize their potential and inspiring them to achieve their goals.

Choreographers will choose a Kansas City muse of inspiration such as cultural/historic institutions, landmarks, artists, or works of art for choreography. Students learn vocabulary, elements of movement/choreography while gaining local context. The students will perform the new choreographic work at Paseo Academy’s Kaleidoscope performances on April 25 and 26.

For more information on the Paseo residencies and how to get involved, contact Tyrone Aiken, Chief Artistic Officer.

 

About Latra Wilson:

Wilson began her dance training at The Dance Factory under the tutelage of Pamela Erwin and Thersa Bryce-Cotes. She went on to study at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where she graduated with a BFA in Dance. Ms. Wilson has had the distinct pleasure to train as a scholarship recipient at The Center Dance, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and Tisch Dance Summer Festival. Ms. Wilson has worked and performed with Taylor 2, Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, Earl Mosely Diversity in Dance, Iluminate Artist of Lights, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’s production of “The Kiss” & world premiere of “Champion”, Owen/Cox Dance and Broadway Dance Lab Cycle 2. As a teaching artist Ms. Wilson is currently working with KCFAA, Youth Arts Academy and Alvin Ailey Arts in Education. In addition, Ms. Wilson just signed with McDonald Selznick Associates, also participating in various productions with The Box, Queen of The Night Late Night and Company Stefanie Batten Bland in NYC.

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KCFAA Celebrates #GivingTuesday By Launching #KCFAAGiveForYouth

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Giving Tuesday

 

This #GivingTuesday, Kansas City Friends of Alving Ailey (KCFAA) will celebrate giving by raising awareness on and pledging to raise funds for its youth programs like AileyCamp.

“We all know that #GivingTuesday connects diverse groups of individuals, communities and organizations around the world for one common purpose – to celebrate and encourage giving,” said KCFAA Chief Executive Officer Harlan Brownlee. “We joined the movement because it’s a perfect fit for KCFAA – an organization giving back to its community by helping youth develop positive life skills.”

KCFAA encourages individuals and organization throughout Kansas City and across the country to join the global giving event, by supporting its youth programs. Through interactive school programs, workshops, dance classes, and its summer intensive – AileyCamp, KCFAA is dedicated to empowering youth, teaching them to strengthen their idea of who they are and who they can become.

Join the cause on November 27 and share with friends and family.  Thank you for helping us to make dance accessible to everyone!  Visit www.kcfaa.org/giving-tuesday for more information.

Share with your friends and family socially using #KCFAAGiveForYouth

#GivingTuesday harnesses the collective power of a unique blend of partners to transform how people think about, talk about, and participate in the giving season. It inspires people to take collective action to improve their communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they believe in, and help create a better world.

“GivingTuesday demonstrates how every act of generosity counts,” Brownlee said.  “And every donation amount greatly benefits a grassroots organization like ours.”

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The Mission of KCFAA

To make dance accessible to all people by presenting the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II, teaching young people critical life skills through dance, and modeling interracial and multi-cultural community partnerships.

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Celebrate November’s First Friday With Us!

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Every month, we love to celebrate First Friday! We are honored to provide free hip-hop dance classes to those who otherwise wouldn’t have access.

Join us this Friday, November 2!!

Two sessions to choose from (or attend both):

5:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.  

Open to ALL ages and skill levels.

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KCFAA to Host Annual Race, Place & Diversity Symposium

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Race, Place and Diversity Symposium

FREE Town Hall Discussion to Follow

Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA) will host its  annual Race, Place and Diversity Symposium on Tuesday, October 30 throughout the 18th & Vine district, concluding with a FREE town hall discussion on the importance of voting at the GEM Theater.

The Diversity Symposium is designed to provide a platform that encourages a candid, healthy discussion on race, place and diversity. Featured panelists will explore relevant social issues with deep, systemic roots and present an open dialog with participants to increase understanding. The Symposium will be moderated by KCFAA Chief Artistic Officer Tyrone Aiken and Kansas City’s ‘Diversity Diva’ Michelle Tyrene Johnson.

Scheduled Symposium Panelists include: 

Jillian Hishaw

Jillian Hishaw, Esq. will present: Rural Roads that Divide: Land Rich, Cash Poor, Equality No More. 

Hishaw is the author of “Don’t Bet The Farm on Medicaid” and has been featured in the Atlantic, Vice News, Seniors.com and more. Hishaw is also a Contributor of the “New Food Economy.” Originally from Kansas City, she is an innovative strategist, Founder, and Attorney in the areas of agriculture, food systems and asset protection.  Hishaw was also recognized by Civil Eats and the Clif Bar Co. as a “Food Industry Changemaker.”

 

Rodney Smith Ed.D. will present: Know Thyself: Does Your Identity Matter?

Author of “Are We Really Crabs in a Barrel: The Truth and Other Insights About the African American Community” which challenges a long-held belief that suggests that Blacks, generally, are not supportive of each other. Smith tenaciously confronts the age-old myth that African Americans stand in the way, and even thwart the progress of other African Americans.

 

Topeka Native Darren Canady will present: My Story is My Survival. 

Canady’s work has been produced at the Alliance Theatre, Congo Square Theater, London’s the Old Vic Theatre, M Ensemble, American Blues Theater, and much more. He has received the Alliance Theater’s Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Award, Chicago’s Black Excellence Award, the Black Theatre Alliance Award, and the American Theatre Critics Association’s Osborn Award. He is an alum of Carnegie Mellon University, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, The Juilliard School, and is a former member of Primary Stages’ Dorothy Strelsin New American Writers Group. currently teaches playwriting at the University of Kansas.

 

Dr. Susan Wilson will present: Make Me Wanna Holler: Race and Equity and its Impact on Mental Health in Black Communities. 

Dr. Wilson, a licensed clinical psychologist, currently serves as the Vice Chancellor of the Division of Diversity and Inclusion at UMKC, spear-heading diversity and inclusion policies and programs for students, faculty, and staff and community. Wilson has more than 20 years of diversity-related experience. She was the Central Region’s representative for the Group on Diversity and Inclusion (GDI) for the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) and served on the Mayor’s Human Rights Commission.

For more information on the panelists, visit https://kcfaa.org/symposium-speakers/.

 

Town Hall Meeting

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 30 at the Gem Theater

(Why Vote) Is voting a right, privilege or just a waste of time?

The elections in November are seen as some of the most important elections in a generation. How does Race, Place (red vs blue states) and issues of Diversity shape voter participation? What impact does the media including social media shape your views on important issues facing the nation today?

Symposium panelists will engage in this discussion at the FREE Town Hall event.  Panelists include: Darren Canady, Jillian Hishaw, Esq., Rodney D. Smith Ed.D., Susan B. Wilson, Ph.D MBA. The Town Hall will be moderated by Tyrone Aiken and Michelle Tyrene Johnson.

For more information on KCFAA’s Town Hall or to RSVP, visit https://kcfaa.org/rpd-town-hall/

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KCFAA to Host Annual Race, Place & Diversity Dinner

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NPR’s Michele Norris to Be Honored With Distinguished Diversity Award

Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA) is proud to honor NPR’s Michele Norris with its distinguished Race, Place and Diversity Award at the annual Race, Place and Diversity Dinner on Monday, October 29 at the InterContinental Hotel on the Country Club Plaza.

Every year, KCFAA honors an individual who demonstrates true leadership and advocacy on the issue of discrimination. The award highlights those who work to break down racial, religious, socioeconomic, ethnic, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability-discriminatory barriers.

Norris is an award-winning reporter, journalist, author, and former host of NPR’s, All Things Considered. Norris also co-created the Race Card Project, which encourages people to express their experience of race in six words. In 2014, this project was honored with a Peabody Award.

Mayor Sly James and his wife, Licia Clifton-James, Ph.D., will serve as honorary chairs, which dovetails with the Mayor’s Race and Inclusion Initiative unveiled in his “State of the City” address last March. Dr. Lisa Klein and Jamie Allen are serving as the 2018 Diversity Dinner Event Chairs.

To purchase a ticket to sit at a community table or to be a table sponsor, click here.

Diversity Dinner

• 5 PM – 6 pm – Patron Party Reception at the Intercontinental Rooftop Bar
• 6 – 6:30 PM – Dinner Registration
• 6:30 PM – Dinner

For Diversity Dinner ticket and sponsorship information, click here.

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KC Author to Discuss “From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream”

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KCFAA, Rainy Day Books to Host Special Author Series

Thursday, July 26, 2018 (Kansas City) – Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA), in partnership with Rainy Day Books, will host a special Author Series featuring Kansas City’s own Dr. Janice Ellis on July 31.

A Conversation with Dr. Janice Ellis will be facilitated by Rainy Day Books Owner Vivien Jennings and will delve into the inspirational story behind, “From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream.”

KCFAA Author Series
7 p.m.
Tuesday, July 31
Unity Temple on the Plaza
707 W 47th St
Kansas City, MO 64112

The Author Series, a Complimentary Open House Event, is sponsored by Spencer Fane and is open to the public. A special reception will take place at 5:30 p.m. for KCFAA members.

To become a member, visit: www.kcfaa.org/join.
To RSVP for the event, visit: https://kcfaa.org/author-series/#rsvp

“From Liberty to Magnolia” takes you on the journey of an African-American woman from rural, segregated Mississippi through academia, corporate America, and politics. The story shows how she triumphed even when the realities of racism and sexism tried to deter her.

The book tells the broader story of what the Civil Rights Act and Equal Rights Amendment have meant and have not meant for blacks and women from a first-hand account, as she has lived through their maturation during the last 50 years.

“From Liberty to Magnolia” shows readers, especially aspiring women and minorities, how to navigate and ultimately embrace the challenges at every major crossroads and be triumphant. It includes a study guide for book clubs, classes, group discussions, and community forums.

Dr. Ellis’ book is available for preorder and purchase at Rainy Day Books, www.rainydaybooks.com. Copies will also be available for purchase and signing at the Author Series event.

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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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