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Week of July 30
This is our last diary entry. We're all busy, busy, busy!!!!! Rehearsing, rehearsing, rehearsing!!!!!! Come see our grand finale performance, Thursday, August 2 at 7pm in Zellerbach Hall!!!!!!
Take a look at pictures from rehearsal.
Everbody is ready and focused for the last couple of rehearsals
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Yejide discusses the schedule with a camper
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M'bewe tweaks a sequence
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Keep those arms straight!
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Camper inspects the ballet costumes
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Wednesday, July 25
AileyCamp staffer Jasprit Gill prepares costumes for the big night on Thursday, August 2.
AileyCamp Director David McCauley (left) and staff talk about the day and the final performance coming up next week.
Thursday, July 19
African Dance teacher Naomi Johnson Diouf gives AileyCampers a workout. Watch a two minute video.
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Wednesday, July 18
What is modern dance? Watch a two minute video and see AileyCampers, under the direction of teacher M'bewe Escobar, work on a routine.
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Friday, July 13
Fieldtrip Day
Before the AileyCampers go swimming at the Strawberry Canyon Fitness Center in the afternoon for their Friday fieldtrip, the AileyCamp staff thought it might be fun to create a fashion show from costumes of past AileyCamp performances to get them ready for the final performance. The campers first have to learn the choreography and the technique to walk the runway.
Yejide Najee-Ullah instructs the campers on choreography
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Campers giving it a whirl
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AileyCampuers put on the costumes for the fashion show.
Campers watching the show
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The campers and staff danced on stage after the show
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Thursday, July 12
Wondering what's going on in ballet class? Watch this two minute video and see the AileyCampers, under the direction of teacher Willie Anderson, relevé and plié.
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Poetry from Creative Communications class
Tuesday, July 10
Free writing example from Creative Communications
Monday, July 9
See what the press is saying about AileyCamp.
Contra Costa Times: Dance camp widens horizons of at-risk youths
San Francisco Chronicle: Alvin Ailey's outreach
Friday, July 6
Jazz Class
Jazz instructor Rosario Lionudakis
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Warming up
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"I'm learning a lot of the steps and it's hard for me at first. But once I got the steps down, I really enjoy [jazz]."
Aururo, 13
"Jazz was fun for me and the teacher really makes sure that you get it!"
Andrielle, 14
Jazz class on Zellerbach stage
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Thursday, July 5
Personnel Development class
Personal Development teacher Shawn Nealy
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AileyCampers showing confidence
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One guideline I have exposed AileyCampers to in Personnel Development class is the Four Agreements, which is a title of a book written by Don Miguel Ruiz. The Four Agreements are as follows: Be impeccable with your words. Don't make assumptions. Don't take anything personal, and always do your best.
'These Four Agreements are great life principles to follow throughout one's entire life. Since day 2 of camp, I have emphasized these four agreements, especially always do your best.' I tell the campers that AileyCamp is about being your absolute best in any given situation. My classroom is a life training for them to get grounded in practical life principles that will help them grow to their full potential. When I see a student not doing their best, I will tell them immediately in a gentle way. I want them to know and feel how much I, and the rest of staff, care about their well-being, as we want them to succeed in every aspect of their life.
Shawn Nealy
Personal Development Instructor
Tuesday, July 3
How do you want to be seen by others?
Today in creative communications class campers discussed how they think they are perceived by others and how they would like to be perceived by others. They began creating collages based on the five characteristics they most wanted to represented themselves. Work will be continued on the projects through the week. Here's a sampling of what's they made so far.
Monday, July 2
First week reflections
The first week of camp has passed and the first building blocks of this summer's pyramid toward performance are in place. We can already see changes in some of the campers. Most are catching on to the routine and ritual of a day in the life of a dancer, while a few, some with a huge reservoir of untapped potential, continue to struggle with the tremendous amount of discipline required.
Observing classes the campers often remind me of fledgling birds, they are eager to take flight, but they need to build muscle strength and coordination before taking off on their adventure. I am looking forward to seeing their flying formation in just five more weeks. It will be a thing of beauty.
David W. McCauley
Director, Berkeley/Oakland AileyCamp
"AileyCamp is fun and has great food. I meet nice friends. Don't like the uniforms. I especially like the African dance and Mama Naomi. I enjoy the afternoon meetings."
Zoey, 12
Friday, June 28
AileyCampers go sailing on the San Francisco Bay compliments of OCSC Sailing
Watch a two minute video of the campers
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At Berkeley marina
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Looking at marine life
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Working the winch
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Hoisting the sails
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Thursday, June 28
Writing away during Creative Communications class
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Kate Schatz, Creative Communcations teacher
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Writings and photos from Creative Communications
Writing exercise in the use of metaphors
Looking for a strong metaphor
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Wednesday, June 27
Members of the enthusiastic AileyCamp staff
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Ballet class on Zellerbach stage
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Quotes from Day 3
"The first week is crucial, where the tone is set - the kids are learning that there is an AileyCamp way, how we do things around here."
Shawn Nealy (Personal development teacher)
"They've got lots of energy...we have to structure that energy."
Naomi Johnson Diouf (African dance teacher)
"This is fun but my muscles are really tired...I'm going home to take an Epsom bath."
AileyCamper
Going home after a hard day at camp
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Monday, June 25
First Day Reflections
By Yejide Najee-Ullah,
Group Leader
The first day of AileyCamp is always an interesting one and in my 6 years with the program it is forever so different. Although the campers are shy and slightly introverted the day resonates with their voices. They rebel against everything we say. I can understand their fear because just a few years ago I was in their shoes. I know the muscle aches and requests that are going to come within the next six weeks and I know how they feel when we say that they must wear tights and leotards everyday, with no exceptions. But no matter how many times I have gone through the motions I still find myself wondering what comes next, what I should or could say that would somehow ensure the campers that this is going to be an unforgettable experience.
Like many of the children, AileyCamp was not the place I wanted to be the summer before I started high school, but I can attest to the fact that it was the best thing I could have done at that impressionable age. We get these campers and they are raw and ready to be injected with all the knowledge that we can amass as a staff, although they are not always willing to take heed to our words. Our hope is that once this camp is ends we will have shown these children that there is so much more to life than they have ever thought and that through their love of dance they can properly express themselves. We want to see them grow into the inspired children that they can become and watch as they continue to learn, grow and eventually change the life of someone else.
(Yejide was an AileyCamper at Cal Performances in 2002. From 2003-06 she volunteered at the camp. This year, after completing her freshman year at Smith College, she is the first-ever former camper hired as a member of the AileyCamp staff.)
Time to limber-up
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M'bewe Escobar leads the first dance class
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AileyCamp!
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Want to learn more about the Berkeley/Oakland AileyCamp at Cal Performances? Watch this seven minute video that follows a group of Berkeley campers from beginning impressions through the grand finale performance.
- QuickTime Format (Get free player)
- RealVideo Format (Get free player)
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calperfs.berkeley.edu