Arsht Center's AileyCamp Miami Returns for 11th Season

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@arshtcenter) today announced plans for the 11th season of AileyCamp Miami, an award-winning free summer camp that uses dance as a vehicle for the personal development of hundreds of youth throughout Miami. To celebrate its continued success, the Arsht Center is rolling out a masterclass led by one of South Florida's most sought-after hip-hop teachers Tawanna Hall.

AileyCamp Miami 2019 culminates with a grand finale performance on the Knight Concert Hall's Swanee and Paul DiMare Stage, where campers showcase their dance skills - and even some of their own spoken word compositions. The performance, themed "Imagine Us," is FREE and passes can be reserved now at arshtcenter.org.

For more than 10 years, AileyCamp Miami has strengthened the lives of more than 1,000 public middle school students in Miami-Dade County, opening their world to opportunities that span far beyond the six-week program. Former campers have been accepted to prestigious performing arts programs, gone on to pursue higher education in the fields of arts and sciences, and paid it forward by starting not-for-profit community organizations and serving as mentors for AileyCamp Miami.

"AileyCamp Miami is more than a camp; it's a sanctuary for our youth to develop an appreciation for the arts and the confidence to step out of their comfort zones and achieve greatness," said Jairo Ontiveros, Assistant Vice President of Arts Education and Community Engagement for the Arsht Center. "Our camp is proof that the arts can be a powerful vehicle when they're accessible, diverse and inclusive."

This year, the Center is introducing a new masterclass led by Tawanna Hall, one of the most highly regarded hip hop/funk master teachers in South Florida. Her fresh, physical style and energetic moves have been performed by some of the most talented dancers and prestigious dance studios in the country, and now she is sharing her techniques with AileyCamp Miami campers.

To continue building on AileyCamp Miami's network of community support, the Arsht Center is once again including a mentoring initiative that pairs AileyCamp Miami campers with alumni for a series of mentoring activities throughout the summer of 2019. The goal of this initiative is to create a positive culture of influence and to support personal development among young people who share the AileyCamp Miami experience.

"For many of our campers, visualizing a life filled with endless possibilities isn't conceivable until they attend AileyCamp Miami. In just six weeks, the impossible becomes possible as our campers begin to shed their fears and embrace their unlimited potential," said Ontiveros. "We're privileged to have the opportunity to improve the lives of young teens in our community and help them jump start their journey."

AileyCamp Miami has achieved national acclaim and widespread community recognition as a positive force for underserved youth in Miami. In 2016, the program was recognized by the White House with the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award - the nation's highest honor for creative youth development programs. Most recently, AileyCamp Miami was awarded The Children's Trust's 2017 Champions for Children Program of the Year award.

AileyCamp Miami is produced and funded by the Arsht Center, with public and private support, in partnership with Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation. The camp uses the power of dance as a vehicle for developing self-esteem, self-discipline, creative expression and critical thinking skills in vulnerable public middle school students. AileyCamp Miami campers learn four primary dance forms - ballet, modern, West African and jazz - as well as communication skills, and take personal development classes focused on everything from body image and nutrition to conflict resolution, bullying and drug abuse prevention. The Arsht Center provides free transportation, meals, dance wear and uniforms for all campers.

AileyCamp Miami has built a solid base of community support from a growing number of local foundations, companies and individuals who believe in the program's power to improve young lives. In 2019, the program is made possible with the leadership support of Adrienne Arsht, The Batchelor Foundation, The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Green Family Foundation and Genesis Motor America Foundation, with additional support provided by Ira and Carole Hall; The Children's Trust; Carnival Foundation; Himan Brown Charitable Trust; The Kirk Foundation; Marian and David Rocker; TriMix Foundation; The Miami Foundation; The Israel, Rose, Henry & Robert Wiener Charitable Foundation; GOYA; Irma and Norman Braman Philanthropic Fund; Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council; the state of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; and Friends of AileyCamp Miami.

For information on how to become a supporter of AileyCamp Miami, visit arshtcenter.org/aileycampmiami.

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