Alvin Ailey believed “dance is for everybody” and was especially dedicated to using dance to enhance the lives of underserved children. AileyCamp represents a vital continuation of Alvin Ailey’s vision, using the power of dance to enrich and positively alter young people’s lives. Students from all backgrounds, are in need of programs that stimulate, present positive themes, and provide role models and mentors.
AileyCamp is an innovative six-week summer program designed to engage children ages 11–14. Through disciplined dance training, creative writing instruction, personal development, and communication workshops, campers develop a respect for themselves and others that meaningfully impacts their lives.
Started by Alvin Ailey himself along with the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey in 1989, AileyCamps now operate in 10 cities across the country:
Atlanta, GA Baltimore, MD Berkeley/Oakland, CA Chicago, IL
Kansas City, KS Kansas City, MO Miami, FL
Newark, NJ New York, NY Seattle, WA
AND NOW DETROIT!!!
We are currently accepting applications for ALL students ages 11-14 to attend the 1st annual AileyCamp Detroit.
Each day of AileyCamp, students take five classes rotating among ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and West-African dance; a Personal Development course examining issues of self-esteem, decision-making, peer-pressure, and selfawareness; and a Creative Communication course which emphasizes the power of writing and visual arts to communicate thoughts and feelings.
Since 2012, AileyCamp has built in programs that provide the young men enrolled in AileyCamp with opportunities to focus on their particular needs at this critical stage in their personal development. Boys’ Percussion Workshop and Boys’ Day provide male campers with a private space to focus on their development as young men, while simultaneously allowing female campers the same freedom to converse with their teachers and peers in an all-female environment. Boys’ Percussion Workshop presents the history of African culture through music, teaching the campers how to play the Djembe drum and other West African instruments.
AileyCamp summer activities conclude with an end-of-camp performance of dance, drumming, and poetry by the campers for family, friends, and community leaders. The performance not only showcases the creative and technical skills of the campers, but also serves as an exciting display of the self-confidence, performance skills, and pride developed during camp.
Since its inception, this vital program has reached thousands of underserved youth across the country, providing direction and hope to children who are most in need of knowing that there can be a bright future.