Dance company to perform in Fort Scott on Feb. 18

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Tickets are going fast for a performance by a well-known dance company later this month at Fort Scott Community College.

Organizers of the performance by the Alvin Ailey II Dance Company, which is set to take place at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at the FSCC Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, 2108 S. Horton St., said tickets for the event have been a hot item since going on sale just a few weeks ago.

"I think my last check was over 300 (tickets) sold so far," event organizer Jill Warford said. "We had a great first week and a good response from out-of-town."

The company is part of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City which started its North American tour last fall and will conclude in March 2010. The company performed at more than 30 venues during that time.

Warford said the dance company ranks high on the list of groups that have been booked to perform at the fine arts center since it opened in April 2009.

"This ranks right up with the KC Symphony as far as being a well-known and popular group at the fine arts center," she said.

More than 600 people turned out to watch the renowned Kansas City Symphony perform a concert during the first-ever event at the center nearly a year ago.

FSCC Director of Public Relations Kathleen Hinrichs said the dance troupe is a good example of the type of cultural events that FSCC wants to make available to the community.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see a performance like this in Fort Scott," she said. "It's why we wanted to build a fine arts center, to bring more culture to the college and the area ... and it's going to get even better. It will be improving every year. We're bringing more and more exciting cultural events to town."

Ailey II, which began in 1974, has become one of the most popular dance companies in the United States. The company has received numerous honors, awards and proclamations in recognition of its community outreach programs, and has performed for an estimated 21 million people in 48 states, as well as 71 countries on six continents. Alvin Ailey founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958.

Warford said plenty of tickets are still available for the show, including a few reserved seating tickets. General seating tickets cost $20, reserved seating tickets for adults cost $25, reserved seating tickets for children and students cost $15, and general seating tickets for students and children cost $10. Tickets are available by calling Warford at (620) 223-2700, extension 515, or at the Country Cupboard, 12 N. Main St.

Major sponsorship of the Alvin Ailey II performance is provided by UMB Bank with additional funding from the Bourbon County Arts Council.