The Moving Story of African-American Dance
Setting the Stage
February 27th, 2025
The Gem Theater – 1615 E 18th Street
Free Public Performance general seating first come first served (doors open 6:30 PM)
Setting the Stage is a unique multi-media program that combines live dance performances with pictures, and narration starting with the Middle Passage and Continuing through present day. Created, directed, and choreographed by KCFAA’s Chief Artistic Officer Tyrone Aiken, Setting the Stage is an exciting visual journey through African American dance history. Setting the Stage is performed by talented local and national artists and provides insights into the history and legacies of African American pioneers in minstrels, jazz dance, ballet, Afro-Caribbean and Modern – including Katherine Dunham and Alvin Ailey.
“Trying To Get There” Choreographer Tyrone Aiken, Dancers Cast: 2020– Photo, Mike Strong
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey is celebrating Black History with a limited number of Setting the Stage performances at schools. Contact programs@kcfaa.org or call (816) 471-6003 ext. 0 to schedule a performance.
Grades: Kindergarten through twelfth
Cost: $700 per performance
Dates: February 24th – February 28th, 2025, during school day
Length: Up to 60 minutes
Location: At Your School
Requirements: 20′ x 30′ minimum floor area
Created, Directed, and Choreographed by Tyrone Aiken
Contact arts partners or programs@kcfaa.org to schedule
Website: Setting the Stage – Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (kcfaa.org)
MISSOURI LEARNING STANDARDS
FINE ARTS AREA: DA-Dance
STRANDS: Cr = Create; Pr = Perform (Dance, Music, Theatre); Re = Respond; Cn = Connect
KCFAA program study guides available to further facilitate learning goals
DA:Cr1A Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
Enduring Understanding/Concept: Choreographers use a variety of sources as inspiration and transform concepts and ideas into movement for artistic expression.
Essential Question/Process: Where do choreographers get ideas for dances?
DA:Pr4A Select, Analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
Enduring Understanding/Concept: Space, time, and energy are basic elements of dance.
Essential Question/Process: How do dancers work with space, time and energy to communicate artistic expression?
DA:Re9A Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
Enduring Understanding/Concept: Criteria for evaluating dance varies across genres, styles, and cultures.
Essential Question/Process: What criteria are used to evaluate dance?
DA:Cn10A Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
Enduring Understanding/Concept: As dance is experienced, all personal experiences, knowledge, and contexts are integrated and synthesized to interpret meaning.
Essential Question/Process: How does dance deepen our understanding of ourselves, other knowledge, and events around us?
DA:Cn11A Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.
Enduring Understanding/Concept: Dance literacy includes deep knowledge and perspectives about societal, cultural, historical, and community contexts.
Essential Question/Process: How does knowing about societal, cultural, historical and community experiences expand dance literacy?
