Each Autumn, Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey present modern dance performances by Ailey II, as the official second home of the New York-based Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Almost 1,700 see these performances, so dance is consequently used as a foundation to devote more time to reaching out to the local community, in order to create social change by encouraging diversity.
This particular mission of Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey applies to the non-profit organisation’s leadership, staff and volunteers, with the goal of uniting across racial, ethnic and social barriers to promote awareness, respect, and community-wide social change. For example, the company’s dancers from New York City recently travelled Kansas City to perform repertoire for the public – whilst Alvin Ailey’s work is well-known, this was not always the case for the audiences the dancers encountered.
Through this exercise the dancers were embodying one of Alvin Ailey’s core principals, emulating that dance came from community and should be delivered back to the community. Here, unknowing audiences in unlikely settings across the city were able to enjoy dance together, uniting diverse people. In other practices, classes were taught by the company’s teaching artists for young students in order to provide more opportunities for young people. Here they can learn about artistic expression, coordination, participation, confidence, discipline and focus. Those with particular promise are encouraged to attend the company’s Ailey Camp, another programme that focuses on youth development beyond dance. Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey serves 30,000 young people each year.
Earlier this month, Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey also focused on its day-long symposium on Race, Place and Diversity, for social change. Over the last two years, a few hundred people have gathered to try to tackle these topics, which also highlight the importance of what the organisation stands for – a stronger community when people work together.