AileyCamp Celebrates 30 Years!

It’s that time of year when parents are thinking about summer camps for their kid(s). But, there’s only one in the Kansas City area that was inspired by the late Alvin Ailey and teaches and inspires youth through dance. This year, Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA) is celebrating 30 years of AileyCamp.

“I am excited to celebrate AileyCamp’s 30th anniversary and the wonderful partnerships created with the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Kansas City Public Schools, Kansas City Kansas Public Schools and Topeka USD501,” said KCFAA Chief Artistic Director Tyrone Aiken. “Thousands of young people are inspired by Alvin Ailey and we are proud to honor his 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!

Each year, 100 boys and girls in Missouri and 100 boys and girls in Kansas are selected to attend the free, award-winning camp. Dance attire, meals, transportation, and field trips are provided. The cost of the six-week Camp ($1,275 per camper) is covered by KCFAA thanks to cash and in-kind donations from corporations, foundations, government agencies, community groups and individuals.

AileyCamp runs May 29 through July 6 and Campers will host a public performance at the end of camp.

“It is great to see the campers grow, apply the lessons they learned to life and sometimes come back to inspire the next generation of campers,” Aiken said. “We encourage everyone to support the campers and help KCFAA continue to offer this experience for 30 more years and beyond.”

Kansas City was awarded a competitive national grant from the Gannett Foundation to develop a replicable innovative summer program for middle school students in the KCMO School district. AileyCamp was designed to inspire urban youth, using dance to develop their self-esteem, self-discipline, critical thinking skills and creativity. KCFAA expanded AileyCamp into the neighboring KCKS District in 1999.

AileyCamp has received many awards and honors, including the prestigious Coming Up Taller Award from the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities and three federal agencies. For more information on AileyCamp and all of KCFAA’s programs, visit www.kcfaa.org.

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April First Friday Classes Cancelled

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Due to our Ailey II performances April 5 – 7 at the Folly Theater, our First Friday classes at KCFAA have been cancelled. We hope you come to one or more of the performances and we will see you at First Friday in May!

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I’m so pleased to know that AileyCamp is still going strong

Kenny Pervine and Karin Ronning-Meagher

Back in 1990, when I was a young dancer, I had the incredible opportunity to work for AileyCamp, a summer dance camp for ‘at risk’ kids. The kids who participated were young teens who were struggling at school for any number of reasons. This was one of the first years of AileyCamp. I taught Improvisation. It was both amazing and challenging at the same time. I struggled because I was young, a bit nervous, didn’t look much older than my students, and came from a very different background. To be honest, I was a skinny, short white girl. It took time to build trust. This is what is wonderful about dance. It is a conduit for change. Camp was 6 weeks long and by the end, we had learned to work together, support each other, trust each other and trust the process. We cobbled together a short work using improvisational structures which was performed on stage alongside other class presentations for families. I had parents come up to me afterwards to tell me how important the camp had been for their child, and how I personally had impacted their child. I felt very humbled by that. In return, I shared how their child had impacted me. Nearly 30 years have passed and I can still remember their names. Now I am in my middle years, and a mother of two boys. One of my boys is the age that my Ailey campers had been. He also dances and performs in a youth dance company. If I were to do it all again, I’d apply some concepts I’ve learned as a Montessori parent about prepared environments and child-led learning. I’d be more comfortable with the controlled chaos of leading teens through improvisation. I’ve often wondered about those students, wondered how they have fared. Our time at dance camp changed us all. Through the discipline of dance, my students experienced self growth, empathy and self determination. This is the kind of massive impact dance and theatre can have on a young person’s life. I’m so pleased to know that AileyCamp is still going strong.

Karin Ronning-Meagher

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Setting the Stage Expands Public Performances

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Setting the Stage is a popular, multimedia program of African-American and American history with a focus on dance. Performances are presented both for the public and for schools. For the first time since its inception over a decade ago, the program will be expanding its public performance across the state line to inspire and educate Topeka audiences.

Learn more and get performance times and locations. >>

 

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Lace Up Your Dancing Shoes! – Gala 2018

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Gala 2018 is Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey’s (KCFAA) largest single fundraising initiative and a critical component of its budget. Proceeds from Gala benefit KCFAA’s 11 year-round education and youth development programs that will teach 25,000 children critical life skills through dance in 2018.

Tickets on sale now!

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Ailey Trio Cancellation – January 11, 2018

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Ailey Trio is cancelled tonight, Thursday, January 11, due to weather. So sad! Be safe and stay warm, friends!

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We’re Hiring!

Are you (or do you know) an experienced marketing and communications professional? KCFAA is looking for a highly qualified individual to fill the role of Director of Marketing for this incredibly precious organization.

https://www.npconnect.org/jobs/info/marketing-communications-director-of-marketing-849278

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