In 1989, renowned dancer Alvin Ailey launched AileyCamp to transform middle school students by building their confidence and introducing them to a variety of dance techniques. Now, AileyCamp is a six-week intensive dance program in 10 cities across the country, including in New York City.
Resilience is the theme of this summer’s AileyCamp. Named after Alvin Ailey, the renowned dancer and founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the camp has 10 locations around the country including one at Newark Arts High School. This summer, the Newark camp — which is free — is hosting 88 participants, who range in age from 11 to 14 years old.
AileyCamper Austin Fisher stood in a rehearsal room at Newark Arts High School with dozens of eyes on her, held the barre with her right hand, arched her left arm above her head, and ever so gracefully bent backward at the waist.
As CBS News New York's Dave Carlin reports, a vibrant combination of talent, teaching and tradition makes AileyCamp a game-changer.
CBS News Miami’s Lisa Petrillo speaks with Jairo Ontiveros, the Arsht Center's vice president of art education, in addition to Wresley Wray, a former Ailey camper now performing on Broadway. Whether it's jazz, ballet, West African dance, or personal development, it's all about an artistic and safe program for Miami-Dade County public middle school students at AileyCamp Miami, a six week summer program at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.
NJ Spotlight News highlights AileyCamp Newark, celebrating 35 years of AileyCamp. Co-director, Sherece Hill, discusses the goals and purpose of AileyCamp while current students give their experience.
“Don’t forget to count,” Matthew Hill, a percussion teacher at Newark’s AileyCamp said as he used his bare hands to thump a djembe, a West African drum. Tap, tap, tap, tap, slapped Hill in a fast tempo as the loud thuds echoed throughout the Arts High School auditorium.
As a Black New York native, I first heard the name Alvin Ailey when I was very young, even as someone not necessarily inclined toward the performing arts. The pioneering African American dancer, choreographer and activist came up in Texas in the violent Jim Crow South, where he recalled seeing members of the Klan. Eventually, he found his way to California to work on his craft, and then New York City
Celebrating the 35-year anniversary of AileyCamp, KCTV anchor, Shane Konicki, interviews Tyrone Aiken, the Chief Artistic Director of Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey.
As a sophomore at Oakland’s Bishop O’Dowd High School in 2013, Camilo Eifler decided to try out for the football team. But there was a catch: He’d never actually played before. He hadn’t even picked up a football.