‘Absolute honor.’ Taylor Swift dancer Kameron Saunders receives UMKC alumni award
Kameron Saunders — dancer for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and brother of a former Kansas City Chiefs player — will speak to graduates at his alma mater, UMKC, next month.
He got a taste of things to come when he returned to Kansas City to receive the 2026 UMKC Conservatory Alumni Achievement Award on Friday.
The alumni honors recognize “inspirational” achievements of graduates out in the real world.
Saunders, who is from St. Louis, received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2014. He gushed about the award on Instagram.
“KC!!!!!!! My goodness!! You guys treat me like I was born and raised here! (Yall are giving my actual hometown a run for their money,” he wrote.
“First, I got my very own day named after me and now I’m your 2026 UMKC alumni achievement award winner for the conservatory. An absolute honor that I do not take lightly!!!
“I try to be as deserving as you all see me. So thank you to everyone on the selection committee who felt me to be a representation of values in excellence, art, and humanity!!!!
“I will see you again in a month to speak to your graduating students.”
Saunders has built a successful career from dancing, choreographing and teaching in his post-UMKC days. He traveled the world with Swift on tour — and received one of the hefty bonuses she gave performers and crew at the end.
He has also danced alongside other top artists including Chappell Roan and Lizzo, and in music videos and movies.
In a November Instagram post, Saunders revealed that he’d been selected to receive the conservatory’s alumni honor.
“This little plus size, gay, black boy from St. Louis, MO that just wanted to dance!” he wrote. “Was constantly told ‘you need to lose weight.’ ‘You will never dance professionally at that size.’
“Made to feel small at EVERY turn. And now.. I have been on the world’s biggest stages! Living every OUNCE of my dreams!!! I’m humbled!”
Kansas City embraced him because of his work with Swift, who performed two shows at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in July 2023. The year after, Kansas City officials declared Jan. 25 Kameron Saunders Day of Dance.
He already had a tie to the city through his brother, Khalen Saunders, a defensive tackle who played in three Super Bowls with the Chiefs before signing with the New Orleans Saints.
Just hours before Swift’s first Kansas City show, Kameron Saunders posted several photos of himself in an empty Arrowhead Stadium wearing a Kansas City Chiefs jersey with the name “Saunders” on the back.
He most recently choreographed a new work for the English National Ballet performed in London.
He will be one of two UMKC commencement speakers in May. He will speak to graduates from the conservatory and the School of Science and Engineering in ceremonies on May 16 at T-Mobile Center.
Dr. Amy Patel, the 2026 UMKC Alumna of the Year, will speak to graduates in two other ceremonies that day.
Patel is a breast radiologist and medical director of the Breast Care Center at Liberty Hospital. She is a passionate breast health advocate and avid Chiefs fan who was named the 2022 Chiefs Fan of the Year.
She also received one of the outstanding alumni awards during ceremonies Friday.
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