Professional Team
Tyrone Aiken, Executive Director
Tyrone joined Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey in 1995 as the Director of Artistic and Educational Programs. He began his dance training at the Cultural Arts Center and the Eglevsky School of Ballet on scholarship. Upon graduation from high school, he received a scholarship to attend the Ailey School. Tyrone began his professional dance career with the Cleo Parker Dance Ensemble in 1983. He has also worked with Jubilations!, Michiyo and Dancers and Blue Mercury Dancing Company. Tyrone’s choreographic credits include works for Dance Institute of Washington, “Kwanzaa” performed at the Kennedy Center, “Summerland” commissioned by Dance Theater of Harlem’s Virginia Johnson, and works for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, The Dance Theater of Harlem Ensemble Company and Blue Mercury Dancing Company. In Kansas City Tyrone has choreographed for The Lyric Opera, The Coterie Theater, Westport Ballet Theatre, The Kansas City Symphony, Wylliams/Henry Danse Theatre and Kansas City Ballet. His teaching credentials include universities and schools around the world, such as Rutgers University; Sapporo College; Japan; Duke University; Dance Theatre of Harlem; and St. Paul public schools. He created The Center Dance, a not-for-profit school for dance in 1998. Tyrone is a panelist for the Missouri Arts Council and has served as a panelist for the Kansas Arts Commission, The Learning Exchange, and Kansas City Metropolitan Arts council. Tyrone received the Robert A. and Dr Phyllis Bernstein Humanitarian Award from the Jewish Family and Children Services in 2003 and traveled to the White House to accept the Coming Up Taller award presented to Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey for Ailey Camp. In 2005 Tyrone received the Bank of America Local Hero award, and he currently serves on the board of Parks and Recreation for the City of Kansas City, Missouri.
Michael Joy, Director of Artistic and Educational Programs
Michael began his dance training at age 21 as a certificate student at The Ailey School, where he continued his training on full scholarship while performing with other companies. In 1984, he joined Ailey II until 1986 at which time he moved to Rome, Italy dancing in several television productions. Returning to the U.S. in 1987, Michael appeared with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, performed with various companies and worked as assistant to choreographer, Talley Beatty. During the summer of 1989, Michael was personally asked by Alvin Ailey to join Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Michael eventually joined the company in December, 1989. While with the Ailey Company Michael had the privilege to perform the works of many of the world’s foremost choreographers in the most prestigious theaters and cultural events, including a presidential inaugural celebration, the 1996 Summer Olympics, and Spoleto Festivals in Italy and the U.S.A. As a member of the Ailey Company he was an original member of KCFAA’s Ailey Male Trio. Most recently, Michael appeared on Broadway as an original cast member in the Tony Award winning musical, The Lion King. He has also appeared in television commercials and in several film, television, and stage productions. In 1996, Michael was awarded the Richard Porter Leach Fellowship by Empire State College-State University of New York, to continue his college education. His teaching credits include class instruction, master classes and has been site director of Ailey Camp Kansas since 2002, served as KCFAA Master Teaching Artist and is the current Artistic Coordinator for KCFAA and director of Ailey Camp The Group.
Denise LaBranch, Data Management Specialist
Denise LaBranch is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana now residing in Kansas City, Missouri. As Data Management Specialist for KCFAA, Denise is responsible for the management of KCFAA’s Raiser’s Edge database, reporting, and gift entry/acknowledgment/solicitation. She also provides support to the membership committee and grant support to the Director of Development and general staff support as it relates to data and reporting. Denise loves to travel, listen to music and her favorite time of year, summer! She is the mother of two young men, Harold and Jamal, and enjoys spending time with her family. Her favorite pasttime is phoning family and friends.
Paula Lang, Master Teaching Artist
Paula is once again working with KCFAA. She most recently worked as an Educator with St. Mark’s Child and Family Development Center and Paseo Visual and Performing Arts High School. She has received her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Dance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her performing credits include the Broadway musicals, Sugar Babies, Annie, and Ain’t Misbehavin at the Starlight Theater. Paula owns and operates her own dance studio, Lang School of Dance. As a choreographer she recently did a production of High School Musical and also worked for Radio Disney. She has earned critical acclaim and numerous awards which include the theater production of Donnie’s House for PBS, Guys and Dolls, Oliver, Ceremonies of Dark Old Men, Bye Bye Birdie, the Coterie’s Rotten Apples and Me, Myself, and I. As an educator Paula was recognized by the Missouri Arts Academy for having the most significant impact on student’s education.
Charles Randolph, Office Manager
Charles Randolph grew up in Kansas City, MO. He studied Ballet, Modern, and Jazz dance at the Center Dance and at Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts. Charles graduated from Bishop Miege High School and is completing a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. In 2006, Charles was selected to The Ailey School's Summer Intensive, where he learned new dance styles such as Dunham and West African. Charles teaches liturgical praise dance, most recently working with Imago Dei and Kansas City Young Audiences.
Jessica Thompson, Education Programs and Special Events Manager
Newcomer to the staff of KCFAA, Jessica has a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She was first introduced to the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey through AileyCamp. She had the pleasure of working as a Group Leader with AileyCamp in Kansas for two years. As the Education Programs and Special Events Manager, Jessica.