charisse-grant_and-son-w.jpgMIAMI — The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County recently hosted an intimate pre-reception for its celebrated and much-anticipated AileyCamp Miami 2012 presentation.

AileyCamp Miami is a free, six-week, full-scholarship summer day camp program for students ages 11-14 currently enrolled in a Miami-Dade County public middle school.

Using dance as a vehicle for developing self-esteem, creative expression and imagination, AileyCamp at the Arsht Center is offered in partnership with the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation.

The camp curriculum is designed to develop students' critical thinking skills and foster healthy respect for self and others through a rigorous and diverse program of dance instruction, creative expression and personal development.

The culminating presentation of the six-week long
AileyCamp Miami featured ballet, jazz, modern and West African dance performed by AileyCampers.

The Aug. 4 soirée, held to honor and thank the program's loyal supporters, included several VIPs in attendance such as this year's presenting sponsor Elizabeth Spill; longtime sponsor Lynn Wiener; Miami Foundation Vice President for Programs Charisse Grant; Adrienne Arsht Center CEO/President John Richard; Adrienne Arsht Board members Richard Milstein, Penny and Richard Thurer; and special guests Louis Leger, Consul General of Canada in Miami, Vera Saeme of Amnesty International, and Miriam Klein Kassenoff.

AileyCamp Miami's 2012 presentation also launched the Arsht Center's Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project, a three-month community-wide awareness initiative promoting the protection of human rights against bigotry and hate through the arts, education and public dialogue.

* Picture is Charisse Grant, Miami Foundation Vice President for Programs, and son were among the VIPs and special guests at AileyCamp Miami 2012.