Dance classes in Kansas City, Missouri
Alvin Ailey first brought his groundbreaking modern dance company, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, to Kansas City in 1968, initiating a decade of performances. In 1984, more than one hundred Kansas City civic, corporate, and community leaders, responding to a call for action by Mayor Richard Berkley, founded Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey. Mr. Ailey’s creation and world premiere of For Bird-With Love celebrated Kansas City as the company’s second home.
As the official second home, KCFAA presents Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater or Ailey II annually and furthers Alvin Ailey’s vision of making dance accessible to all people. As demand for programming grew, KCFAA responded by creating innovative arts education programs, including the six-week summer AileyCamp and the new year-round KCFAA Studio Programs. KCFAA serves more than 20,000 young people through robust arts education programs.
KCFAA encourages diversity of people and ideas through its organizational structure, uniting people across racial, ethnic, and social barriers to promote awareness, respect, friendship, and ultimately, community-wide social change.
AileyCamp will continue to provide inner-city youth in seven cities nationwide the opportunity to be themselves and explore their creativity with its first-ever virtual summer program.
As Ailey enters its sixth decade, AileyCamp, the organization's innovative full-scholarship day camp, marks its 30th anniversary reaching over 1,000 inner-city students in 10 cities nationwide with a life-changing experience.
