AileyCamp

AileyCamp

ACA Accredited Camp | Day Camp | Specialty Camp

The mission of Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA) is 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. In fulfillment of our mission, KCFAA implements AileyCamp, an award-winning, signature summer dance camp for middle school students between the ages of 11 and 14. Much more than a dance program, AileyCamp provides students opportunities to develop social-emotional skills, strengthen relationships, and become more involved in their community.

AileyCamp incorporates the best in dance training for youths whose families may not be able to afford such programming. Campers primarily come from low-income families (90% of campers are eligible for free and reduced lunch) and historically marginalized communities (81% are African American, 12% are Hispanic, and 5% are two or more races). KCFAA provides full-tuition scholarships for all campers that include uniforms/dance attire, bus transportation to/from camp, two field trips, breakfast, snacks, and lunch.

The physically demanding program engages up to 160 campers total at two camp locations, one in Kansas City, Missouri, and the other in Kansas City, Kansas. From 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday during the six-week program, campers not only receive dance instruction from professional teaching artists but also participate in activities focused on fostering creativity and developing social-emotional and other life skills. Campers engage in daily, hour-long personal development sessions that focus on topics such as conflict resolution, substance use, peer relationships, health, and nutrition. Campers also attend daily, hour-long creative communication classes, where they exercise their imaginations, express their emotions through creative writing and journaling, practice creative communication skills, and participate in discussions about issues such as suicide, violence, social justice, and public health. These classes teach the importance of academic excellence, smart lifestyle choices, the connection between mental and physical fitness, self-discipline, and positive self-esteem. At the end of AileyCamp, campers at each site showcase their learning and accomplishments in a free public performance that is attended by their families, supporters, and other community members.

Campers connect with teaching artists and program staff of various racial/ethnic and cultural backgrounds reflective of their own and Kansas City’s diverse population. The majority (90%) of AileyCamp teaching artists and program staff are people of color, and several teaching artists are themselves former campers. In discovering mentors of similar backgrounds, campers build positive self-identity and a sense of accomplishment. Campers also receive trauma-informed care in daily interactions with program staff, all of whom are trained in Mental Health First Aid. KCFAA employs master’s-level social workers (MSWs) and licensed master social workers (LMSWs) as personal development instructors, who lead classes as well as meet with campers individually, as needed.

KCFAA partners with local school districts, including Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS), Kansas City Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS), and Topeka Public Schools Unified School District 501, approximately an hour west of Kansas City, Kansas, for outreach and recruitment. Student recruitment begins in the winter prior to the summer dance camp when KCFAA makes applications available in both English and Spanish through school partners and on our website. Each applicant and their parent(s)/guardian(s) participate in a one-on-one interview with program staff to share pertinent information, such as their living situation, and program commitment.

To ensure AileyCamp is accessible and remains free for campers whose families face financial barriers, KCFAA counts on support from individuals and corporations and grants from foundations and government agencies. The Camps For Kids Match CAMPaign enables individuals to invest in AileyCamp. The funding is critical to AileyCamp’s success!