Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA), the second home to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater based in New York City, will honor Sharon and John Hoffman at its Gala event on April 9, 2022.
KCFAA’s mission 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.
Now in its 38th year, the Gala will feature a performance of the Ailey II dance company at the Folly Theater, followed by a dinner and dance party celebration at the Kansas City Marriott. The Gala benefits KCFAA’s year-round education and youth development programs.
Sharon and John Hoffman have been integral to the success of KCFAA and are known throughout the greater Kansas City community for their philanthropy and active advocacy for the arts and charitable endeavors. They are being honored serving as Honorary Gala Chairs along with Drs. Everlyn and Roger Williams.
The Hoffmans have been involved in KCFAA since its inception in 1984. Sharon was the first vice president of the organization and has served on the Board four times. Throughout her service, she was responsible for pivotal decisions, including moving the organization to its current location at 18th and Vine in 2007. Sharon’s leadership in locating KCFAA in this historically significant district has helped drive economic growth and opportunity for the area.
Sharon is proud of her involvement with creating the Race, Place and Diversity Award, which honors a nationally known individual whose actions demonstrate a commitment to advancing diversity and equity.
“Creating an opportunity to highlight champions of diversity and promote equity is essential to our community values,” Sharon said.
The Hoffmans’ commitment to these concepts has driven them to establish the Hoffman Legacy Award, making a financial gift for the event for years to come. Sharon was responsible for securing Senator Cory Booker, director and choreographer Debbie Allen, journalist and NPR host Michele Norris, and author Bryan Stevenson as past award winners.
The impact of the Hoffmans’ advocacy will be felt for years at KCFAA and notably at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Kansas City Art Institute, as well as the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, where they have made gifts from their contemporary art collection.
Their advocacy for justice, the arts, and restoring Kansas City’s urban core is a family legacy they have instilled in their children, Lynn and Matt. Lynn is a new member of the KCFAA Board. Matt will fly home to Kansas City from New York to honor his parents at the Gala.
The Hoffmans believe KCFAA is important to provide opportunities for Kansas City to experience the highest quality dance by bringing the Ailey dance companies to the community. Also important to the Hoffmans is teaching children critical life skills through dance education and AileyCamp’s educational programming, and connecting diverse people to promote friendships and cross-cultural and interracial understanding in Kansas City.
Alvin Ailey, an African American renowned choreographer, founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City in 1958. Active in the civil rights movement, Ailey made a name for his choreography portraying the civil rights movement through dance. His protests were on the stage. His relationship with Kansas City grew when he brought his dance company here to perform in 1968. Committed to his goal of securing a second home for his work, Kansas City was at the top of the list, largely because of Kansas City art advocate and friend Allan Gray.
KCFAA will present Ailey II in public performances April 8 and April 9. After two years of the Gala being virtual because of COVID, the Gala will be in person. The theme for the Gala is “In Good Company.” Those interested in purchasing tickets can visit www.kcfaa.org/gala2022 or email .
