Arts In Education & Community Programs

AileyDance Kids at Dual Language Middle School

Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs are committed to bringing dance into classrooms, communities, and lives of people of all ages. Programs include special student performances, lecture-demonstrations, technique classes, and innovative programs such as AileyCamp and curriculum based residencies inspired by Revelations.

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AileyCamp Overview

Featured News Releases

July 16, 2026

AileyCamp Marks 35 Years in New York and 15 Years in Newark of Empowering Youth Through Dance

NEW YORK, NY (JULY 16, 2026) – This summer marks the 35th anniversary of Children’s Aid/AileyCamp New York and the 15th anniversary of AileyCamp Newark, the six-week program that provides a safe space for metro-area youth ages 11-14 to develop self-confidence and explore their creativity through dance. Welcoming over 200 local youth, AileyCamp New York runs July 6-August 14 in collaboration with the Children’s Aid Society in the Bronx, and the Newark camp runs June 30-August 7, in partnership with New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Newark Public Schools. Since AileyCamp Newark’s inaugural session in 2011, the program has proudly been hosted at Arts High School in Newark, the first performing arts high school in the country.

June 24, 2026

AileyCamp Inspires Young People in Nine Cities this Summer with National Theme of TIME: Teach, Inspire, Mentor, Elevate

NEW YORK, NY (June 24, 2026) – AileyCamp, the nationally acclaimed full-scholarship program, will use the power of dance to provide a life-changing experience that stretches the minds, bodies, and spirits of students in nine cities this summer. Founded in 1989 by Alvin Ailey and Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey to positively impact young lives, AileyCamp will serve 11–14-year-old middle schoolers in New York, where Children’s Aid/AileyCamp marks 35 years, and Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Berkeley, CA; Kansas City, KS and MO; Miami, FL; Newark, NJ; and Seattle, WA.

January 15, 2026

AILEY Offers a Variety of Options to Celebrate Black History Month Including Live Performances, Dance Workshops, Free Classes, and Education Programming for Students and Educators

NEW YORK, NY (January 15, 2026) – As America prepares to celebrate a Century of Black History Commemorations this February, AILEY welcomes people from all walks of life to immerse themselves in the beauty of African American culture through performances, workshops, and educational programming. With a variety of options including free programming, in-person experiences, and online offerings, each initiative presents opportunities for all regardless of age, location, or dance abilities. Discover the magic of AILEY by witnessing live performances from the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and spirited Ailey II; explore Alvin Ailey’s choreography at Ailey Experience and get moving to a variety of dance styles with roots in the African diaspora during workshops and weekly classes presented by Ailey Extension; explore new educational resources for students and educators, and experience the life, career and impact of the organization’s founder with the Portrait of Ailey documentary.

Featured Press Coverage

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July 31, 2026

The Star Ledger - Poised for success: Camp turns dancers into confident leaders

All eyes turned to Nasha Thomas as she stepped into the dance rehearsal. The room fell quiet. With a few words, the AileyCamp national director commanded the attention of dozens of students as she shared feedback with campers preparing for an upcoming performance at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in early August.

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July 30, 2026

NJ.com - How the Alvin Ailey summer camp in Newark is turning young dancers into confident leaders

All eyes turned to Nasha Thomas as she stepped into the dance rehearsal. The room fell quiet. With a few words, the AileyCamp national director commanded the attention of dozens of students as she shared feedback with campers preparing for an upcoming performance at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in early August. Thomas continued making her rounds, observing ballet, modern, West African dance and a percussion class, offering thoughtful adjustments along the way. “Stagger your positions,” she told one group. “Practice once without music. Get used to dancing without your glasses. Don’t rely on seeing every step. Tuck in loose strings. Remove rubber bands from your wrists. Be ready before the music begins.” Individually, the corrections were small. Collectively, they revealed something larger: Excellence is built through dozens of little habits.

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July 29, 2026

Harper's Bazaar - Can ballet Help in the Fight Against Alzheimer's?

I am standing on the side of the dance studio, debating whether to leave. Having recently returned to ballet classes after a two-decade hiatus, I feel defeated by the instructed footwork. It doesn’t help that the “Balletcore” class I am taking is 21+, meaning that I am auntie age in the eyes of many of my fellow dancers. Our instructor, dancer and choreographer Angela Trimbur, is introducing choreography that feels especially complex. But then she says just the thing to get me back onto the floor: Part of her intention is to fight off dementia. When I ask her about it later, she tells me, “Whether someone remembers every step is honestly less important to me than the fact that they're building new neuron pathways and challenging familiar patterns to shift gears.” Trimbur continues, “When we’re learning choreography, we’re asking the brain to do so many things at once: remember sequences, process music, coordinate movement, adapt when we make mistakes, and stay present with other people in the room. It’s a perfect puzzle for keeping the mind fresh.”