An evening dedicated to celebrating dance and diversity will be hosted by the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA) May 4. The 35th Anniversary Gala will feature special guests Robert Battle, artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and Judith Jamison, artistic director emerita, plus performances by Ailey II dancers.
KCFAA, the only presenter of New York’s Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II in Kansas City, is the New York dance company’s second home. It strives to reach children in the Kansas City area, teaching critical life skills through dance, according to KCFAA.org.
Myra and Lester Siegel, KCFAA Gala co-chairs, said they’re looking forward to watching the spectacular performances at the gala while being alongside those who continue to support KCFAA and its involvement in the community.
Proceeds from Gala 2019 will go toward KCFAA’s 11 education and youth development programs that have an impact on more than 25,000 children. KCFAA “develops and delivers youth programming that uses the art of dance as a vehicle to improve knowledge, increase self-esteem, enhance critical thinking skills and encourage positive role models and smart life choices,” according to KCFAA.org.
“It’s very important to raise the funds that will allow this to be continued in our community,” Myra said.
The Siegels have been involved with KCFAA since the 1960s, after watching the Ailey company perform in Kansas City. Myra said she also had the pleasure of watching the dance company perform in New York.
“We were just absolutely delighted when Alvin Ailey himself chose Kansas City as their second home,” Myra said. “So many other things came out of that, such as the relationships that were formed both by working with Ailey and making new friends, and the diversity and the opportunity to meet people from different parts of the community.”
The Jewish couple has seen KCFAA grow and change over time, from its start in Kansas City in 1984 to the passing of its founder, Alvin Ailey, in 1989. They championed the creation of AileyCamps, free summer day camps for youth learning the discipline of dance, that same year. Kansas City’s AileyCamps program became a role model for 10 other cities across the U.S. that now have AileyCamps of their own.
“What happened to our young Ailey campers and seeing their lives progress in positive ways and following their careers and their lives, I think that’s mainly what keeps us involved for so long … so many of us had the opportunity to take part and to help in this 35-year-relationship, and many from the Jewish community, and I think it was something that was very positive also.”
Myra said KCFAA brought different races and religions within the community together.
“It established good working relationships between people who basically didn’t even know each other,” Lester said. “It just grew, the performances, because they were terrific, entertaining and drew a big audience.”
Events like the 2019 Gala are an inspiration to those who attend.
“When you attend an Ailey event, you look around in that audience and your heart just swells that you’re a part of something that’s really very important in the community and it looks different than a lot of other performances, although they’re all wonderful and all have their place, but this one I think ... has remained very special,” Myra said.
The 2019 Gala Patron’s Party will be hosted by Kathleen and Marshall Miller at their home May 3, featuring Robert Battle, Judith Jamison and the Ailey II dancers. The 35th Anniversary Gala will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, with an intimate performance by Ailey II dancers during dinner. The Janet K. Miller Award Presentation to Mayor Sly James is set to follow the performances. For more information, tickets and sponsorships, visit www.kcfaa.org/gala35/#purchase.