Studio Class Cancellation Notification – January 11, 2020
Because we care about the safety of our staff and our customers, we are cancelling studio classes for Saturday, January 11, 2020. Please be safe if you are driving!
Join us for First Friday – September Style!
Every month, Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey is proud to offer FREE dance classes at our Studio. It will be a beautiful evening to dance the night away! Friday, September 6, 2019.
Melanie Miller Named KCFAA Chief Executive Officer
At its June meeting last week, the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA) Board of Directors officially named Melanie Miller as its Chief Executive Officer. Miller, who has been serving as Interim CEO since December 1, will take the helm effective immediately.
“We are thrilled that Melanie has chosen to join our organization and we are fortunate to have such a dedicated and professional individual to lead Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey,” said KCFAA Board of Directors President Debbie Brooks. “We look forward to continued growth and success.”
Under the leadership of Miller, KCFAA has already experienced numerous successes and growth. Miller assumed the interim role right as KCFAA entered its 35th year of service to the Greater Kansas City area. The 35th Anniversary Gala in May was one of the most successful fundraising events for KCFAA and Miller continues to push for growth in funding, membership, programs and volunteers.
“I am honored and excited for this opportunity to continue leading Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey,” Miller said. “I have been a ‘friend’ of KCFAA since it was first established in 1984. Over the last 35 years, I have volunteered, attended Galas and student performances, and became a member of KCFAA because I valued its mission to be an educator, presenter and unifier.”
With more than 15 years of experience in strategic leadership positions at Hallmark and DEMDACO, Miller has vast tactical knowledge in finance, operations and multi-level team management. She has been heavily involved in Kansas City’s philanthropic realm – serving as General Co-Chair for the Cotillion Scholarship Program and Co-Chair of the Arts Facet Committee for the Greater Kansas City Links, Inc. She is also a former Board Member for the Women’s Foundation, the Women’s Employment Network (WEN) and the Kansas City Boys and Girls Choirs. Miller has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.
As KCFAA continues to celebrate 35 years in Kansas City, Miller understands the importance and impact of the organization’s loyal supporters.
“I am inspired by the amazing staff, board members, funders, students, parents and community supporters who are committed to the continued success of our programs and events,” Miller said. “I look forward to working more with our community to further advance our mission and keep Mr. Ailey’s vision alive!”
One part of Alvin Ailey’s vision was to make dance accessible to all. One of the ways KCFAA does this is through AileyCamp – a summer day camp that uses the art of dance to teach young students critical life skills, social skills and healthy lifestyle choices. Each year, our staff members work with more than 200 middle school-age students (10-15), in Missouri and Kansas, to help them create the personal tools needed to improve self-discipline, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
“We invite everyone to watch our 2019 AileyCamp students shine at their final performances,” Miller said.
2019 AileyCamp Final Performances
7 p.m.
Tuesday, July 2
Eisenhower Middle School
2901 N. 72nd Street, Kansas City, KS 66109
7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 3
Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts
4747 Flora Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64110
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 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. In November 2016, Michelle Obama presented AileyCamp Miami with the 2016 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, the highest honor for creative, out-of-school youth development programs.
For more information on AileyCamp and all of KCFAA’s programs, visit www.kcfaa.org
2019 AileyCamp Open House Topeka
Join KCFAA as we celebrate our 2019 AileyCamp staff and students in Topeka! Come out to see why your support matters. AileyCamp began in Kansas City, Missouri 31 years ago and is in its 19th year in Kansas. AileyCamp has been replicated in 10 cities across America and is a testament to Alvin Ailey’s commitment to “deliver dance back to the people”.
The program uses the art of dance to teach young students critical life skills, pro-social skills and healthy lifestyle choices. Each year, our staff members work with more than 200 middle school-age students (10-15), on both sides of the Stateline to help them create the personal tools needed to improve self-discipline, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
We invite you to learn more about AileyCamp on June 19. An RSVP is not necessary, but appreciated.
Wednesday, June 19
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Family and General Public Tours
Topeka Shawnee County Library
Marvin Auditorium 101ABC
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey’s Presents Gone Before
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA) is proud to present the premiere of Gone Before, a brand-new dance odyssey about struggle, survival, hope and transformation on March 27 and March 28 at the Folly Theater.
Community groups, organizations, families and individuals are invited to special presentations of Gone Before. It is a universal migration story that challenges the ideas of borders and freedom of movement. This multimedia, educational and engaging dance theater performance is for individuals of all ages. It features dancers, poets, vocalists, percussionists, a turntablist and cartoonist.
Community Group reservations (made through KCFAA office):
$8.00 per group member
Free: 2 chaperones per organization
$8.00 each additional chaperone
General public (Online purchase): $10 per ticket
www.kcfaa.org/theater-performance-for-schools
Contact Ada McNeal at (816) 471-6003 x0 or ada@kcfaa.org to schedule your group to attend a Gone Before presentation.
Gone Before is a universal migration story that challenges the ideas of borders and freedom of movement.
** Your school may be eligible to receive a Big Yellow School Bus Grant!
First Friday – Free Hip Hop Classes (Heels Optional)
Join Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey’s own Elaina Paige at 6 p.m. and/or 7 p.m., Friday, February 1 for a fun hour of hip-hop dance class. Feeling adventurous? Bring your friends to Elaina’s “heels” edition at 7 p.m. (heels are optional).
It’s First Friday – KCFAA style!
KCFAA Hosts FREE Hip Hop Dance Classes
As part of First Friday, we will be hosting FREE hip hop classes at 6 and 7 p.m., Friday, January 4 at our studio: 1714 East 18th Street, Kansas City, MO 64108. We hope you can join us!
Highly-Acclaimed NY Dancers Return to Kansas City
KCFAA Presents Ailey Trio
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA) will present Ailey Trio in a free 60-minute public performance at the Gem Theater on Thursday, January 10 at 7:00 p.m.
Ailey Trio, established in 1993, is unique to Kansas City and an important part of KCFAA’s arts education programming. Taking a short break from their rigorous schedule with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, three AAADT dancers bring their talent to KC to introduce Alvin Ailey’s vision and legacy to students, supporters and community members.
“The trio is a great way to see Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancers perform the highly-acclaimed repertory straight from New York,” said KCFAA Chief Artistic Officer Tyrone Aiken.
The Ailey Trio performance allows audience members to experience the elite dance style of AAADT and explore how dance is a connector to culture, physical fitness, sequencing and artistic expression. The program was created by KCFAA for Kansas City and replicated by AAADT to perform across the country.
A KCFAA Members-Only event will take place prior to the public performance. If you are a member, click here to RSVP by January 8, 2019. Members will be able to meet the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancers, enjoy a light supper and network with fellow KCFAA members and community leaders!
Not a member? Visit www.kcfaa.org/join to join! Questions about membership? Contact KCFAA Interim CEO Melanie Miller at melanie@kcfaa.org.
MEMBER-ONLY EVENT
Time: 5:30 – 6:45 p.m.
Date: Thursday, January 10, 2019
Location: Gem Theater, 1615 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
FREE Public Performance
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Date: Thursday, January 10, 2019
Location: Gem Theater, 1615 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Meet the artists!
Jacquelin Harris (Charlotte, NC) received a silver ARTS award from the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts and was a Presidential Scholar in the Arts semifinalist. She graduated with honors from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program in Dance. In 2016, Ms. Harris was named “25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine. She was a member of Ailey II and joined the Company in 2014.
Kanji Segawa (Kanagawa, Japan) came to the U.S. under the Japanese Government Artist Fellowship to train at The Ailey School. Segawa was a member of Ailey II from 2000-02 and Robert Battle’s Battleworks Dance Company from 2002-10. He worked extensively with choreographer Mark Morris from 2004-11, repeatedly appearing in Mr. Morris’ various productions with Mark Morris Dance Group, including as a principal dancer in John Adams’ Nixon in China at The Metropolitan Opera. In addition, Mr. Segawa assists and works closely with choreographer Jessica Lang since 1999. Mr. Segawa joined the Company in 2011.
Michael Jackson, Jr. (New Orleans, LA) began his dance training at age 14 at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., under the direction of Charles Augins. He became a member of Dance Theatre of Harlem Dancing through Barriers Ensemble in 2005. In 2006, he joined Dallas Black Dance Theatre and in 2008 joined Philadanco, where he also worked as Artistic Director of D3. Mr. Jackson joined the Company in 2011 and rejoined in 2015.