In 1989, with assistance from the Gannett Foundation, KCFAA introduced an innovative six-week summer program for middle school students in the Kansas City, Missouri School District. AileyCamp was designed to reach “at-risk” youth, using dance to develop their self-esteem, self-discipline, critical thinking skills and to foster creativity.
KCFAA’s Board and staff, with the AileyCamp Committee, embarked upon planning for the expansion of AileyCamp into the neighboring Kansas City, Kansas School District in 1999. After meetings with USD500 School District officials KCFAA announced the plans to open a camp in the summer of 2000. That summer over 40 campers from USD500 attended a 2-week camp that was held at J.C. Harmon High School. Many other corporate, foundation, community, and individual donors came on board or increased their gifts to AileyCamp Missouri to sustain AileyCamp in Kansas City, Kansas. Each year, awareness of AileyCamp Kansas grows and more students apply for the program. Today more than 180 students attend AileyCamps in Kansas and Missouri. There are 11 AileyCamps across the United States.
Among other awards and honors, in 2003, AileyCamp received the prestigious Coming Up Taller Award from the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities and three federal agencies.
KCFAA is proud to present students participating in AileyCamp the Group and the KCFAA Studio Programs in a 2010 Spring Concert. Students will showcase all they’ve learned in the latest session of these vital youth programs on Wednesday, May 5, 7:00pm at the Gem Theater, 1601 East 18th Street, KCMO in the historic Jazz District.
AileyCamp Final Performance will be scheduled for July, 2010 at 7:00pm at Paseo Academy, date TBD.
Related links:
AileyCamp Missouri | AileyCamp Kansas | AileyCamp Final Performance
