ENRICH.
EDUCATE.
ENTERTAIN.
ABOUT THE ASASE YAA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
The School of the Arts was founded in 2010 with the mission to provide quality dance and drum instruction to boys and girls students ages 3 to 18. Through intensive study and technical training in various dance forms that include tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, modern, and African, students become well versed in their genre over the course of the 37 week program (which typically runs from October to June).
The first three months of the program is focused on technique and the remaining months are focused around creating routines and choreography designed for a culminating recital annually held in June at a distinguished local venue.
Based on the belief that art is a powerful tool in helping youth learn about their historical connection to Africa, our approach to instruction is intentionally holistic. So beyond teaching dance and drum, we seek to develop students’ self-esteem. In a safe and nurturing environment that honors one’s unique contributions while also respecting the collective body, students gain confidence, learn important interactive social skills, and develop a sense of cultural pride that enables them to become productive citizens of the world.
The School also serves as a cultural and performing arts space which is committed to the growth, preservation and presentation of the arts in the Brooklyn community. We are thrilled to announce that beginning in the 2024-25 season, the School of the Arts will be presented in our new state-of-the-art community arts space in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Our center includes three dance studios, a music room, a community lounge, and office space.
It is a fully inclusive, secure, and safe environment for everyone.
The School offers two major youth programs annually in addition to the classes and regular curriculum they offer in public, charter, and public schools.
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
CHILDREN’S SUMMER ART CAMP
ARTS OUTREACH PROGRAM
CHILDREN’S ARTS CAMP
JULY 1, 2024- AUGUST 9, 2024
Six Weeks, Mon-Fri, 8 AM – 5 PM • For Youth 4 – 13 years old • Brooklyn, NY
Camp Theme: Exploring African Wildlife
2024 Summer Camp Registration fee: $100
Camp Tuition: $1100
Our Children’s Summer Arts Camp is a 6-week multidisciplinary performing arts program and day camp which is the only summer program that offers youth (ages 4-13) a chance to contribute, create, and produce an original live production. We teach writing, dancing, music, singing, drama, set building, costumes, choreography, staging, lighting, and sound.
At the end of camp, we present the original theatre piece they created to a captive audience of family and friends. In addition to our camp staff, we attract top artists who have mastered their artistic discipline and come and work with our students. Many whom volunteer their time throughout the camp experience.
During the six weeks, youth engage and interact daily starting with a morning circle, which is followed with various games, activities, and development of the musical presentation. We also include several field trips and celebrate African Flag Day.
We’re dedicated to creating a family atmosphere and environment for our campers that encourages fun, creativity, encouragement, and education. We strive to create memorable experiences to help youth develop self-confidence, stronger mental and physical health, and meaningful friendships.
We expanded our Summer Arts Camp in 2019. Click here to learn more.
ARTS OUTREACH PROGRAM
From Our Program Director
“Children are Brave when they feel secure.”
Kwesi Nkroma, Managing Director Asase Yaa School of the Arts Outreach
Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation directors and instructors have witnessed the truth of this statement over our 15 + years of working with youth. We’ve seen firsthand that cultural exploration is simultaneously grounding and uplifting. Achievement in the arts empowers young people to recognize and express their light.
Our in-school residencies bring world-class cultural arts entertainment into your learning environment. Traditional African, Ballet, Hip Hop, Tap and Modern Dance is taught immersion style, as is music instruction featuring arrangements from Ghana, Guinea, Cuba, etc. Students effortlessly absorb the rich cultural and historical wisdom that informs the choreography and composition. The same is true for our theater, visual arts and vocal instruction: the cultural framework authorizes young people to find their voices and share their vision; the structure inspires confidence and develops discipline.
Asase Yaa School of the Arts Outreach features curriculums tailored to the range of interests and capacities of children from kindergarten through grade 12. Our instructors are teaching and performing veterans who share expert knowledge of worldwide cultures and arts traditions. They easily build rapport with students and are experienced at working harmoniously with school professionals.
We look forward to the opportunity to meet with you, to answer any questions you might have and to demonstrate the value that Asase Yaa School of the Arts Outreach can bring to your school.
Kwesi Nkroma
Managing Director
Asase Yaa School of the Arts Outreach
- New in 2023! -
Asase Yaa School of the Arts Outreach 45 minute Ensemble Performance:
“Illuminate the Principles”
ABOUT THE ARTS OUTREACH PROGRAM
Bring world-class cultural arts entertainment into your learning environment
Our Asase Yaa Arts Outreach programs were originally founded as T.E.A.C.H in September 2012, which was changed to Arts Outreach in 2018. Our mission has always been to offer in-school instruction for students within the City of New York public and charter school system. The curriculum we have developed is optimized for students in kindergarten through the 12th grade and features instruction in multiple performing arts genres, including African and African diasporic dance, African drumming, musical theater, vocal, ballet, tap, martial arts, hip hop, modern dance, acting, visual arts and instrumental performance.
Our Arts Outreach programs include in-school Residency Programs in dance, drumming visual arts and theater. We also offer special performances for schools and community events that feature our abbreviated dance and drum ensembles and presentations of original musical theater productions performed by youth casts from our School of the Arts.
Arts Outreach focuses on the dissemination of knowledge related to African, Caribbean, and African American history and cultural art forms, enriching children’s educational, social, and physical development. Through Arts Outreach, Asase Yaa hopes to share the creative vision of some of New York’s most seasoned and qualified teaching artists and the spirit, energy and passion of our young talent with schools throughout the Tri-State area.
We advocate and reinforce our belief that the arts encourage tenacity, creativity, confidence and critical thinking, all qualities that are important to the educational learning process and development of young students.
Arts Outreach Residency Programs and Classes
Asase Yaa offers a series of class programs that comprise a different number of daily and weekly sessions. Traditional African, Ballet, Hip Hop, Tap and Modern Dance is taught immersion-style, as is music instruction featuring arrangements from Djembe, Conga, drum line, piano, guitar, and violin. Students effortlessly absorb the rich cultural and historical wisdom that informs the choreography and composition. The same is true for our theater, visual arts and vocal instruction: the cultural framework authorizes young people to find their voices and share their vision; the structure inspires confidence and develops discipline.
PROGRAM OPTIONS
Up to 5 sessions per day, 5 days a week.
- 1 week
- 4 weeks
- 8 weeks
- 12 weeks (one semester)
- 30 weeks (one school year)
Classes:
- Drumming (Djembe, Conga and drum line)
- Dance (African, Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop and Modern)
- Theater (Original productions)
- Visual Arts
- In School Performance/Lecture Demonstration
New in 2023
“Illuminate the Principles”
Illuminate the Principles is a interactive concert created for schools grades k -12. This concert will take students on a journey through the Nguzo Saba (seven principles of Kwanzaa).
Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 – January 1. It celebrates the seven principles of Kwanzaa, or Nguzo Saba (originally Nguzu Saba—the seven principles of blackness). It consists of “the best of African thought and practice in constant exchange with the world.” These seven principles comprise Kawaida, a Swahili term for tradition and reason. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the following principles, as follows:
- Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
- Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
- Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together. To make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems, and to solve them together.
- Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
- Nia (Purpose): To make our collective goal of building and developing our community. This is in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
- Kuumba (Creativity): To always do as much as we can, in the way we can. This allows us to leave our community more beautiful and better than we inherited it.
- Imani (Faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
“Illuminate the Principles” will be available for booking from October 1, 2023 – March 30, 2024.
For further information about Arts Outreach, please contact Kofi Osei Williams, Executive Director,
Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation at (646) 468-0710.
New in 2021
Rhythm Connection
“Rhythm Connection” is a virtual interactive concert curated and created by our Asase Yaa School of the Arts Outreach program is available for bookings for schools grades K-12.
Our concert will take students on a virtual rhythmic journey from America throughout Africa and the African Diaspora, and the Caribbean.
An ensemble cast of artistic teachers, musicians, and dancers will share folktales, traditional music, instruments and dances that shaped and developed the historical growth of African arts and culture throughout the world.
The 45-minute concert will enrich, educate and entertain youth using indigenous African call-and-response to engage students. They will learn the history of the Djembe drums, take part in sing-along performances of popular Ghanaian songs, join in the internationally renowned Limbo line dance which originated in Trinidad, and have a brief Q & A session with members of the performing ensemble.
We are offering “Rhythm Connection” as an in-person or virtual concert experience, and can change and tailor some of the performance elements to fit your school’s unique needs.
If you’re interested in treating your school, students and community to a unique, interactive and fun concert, please contact us for more specific details about booking the concert at your school. We will present “Rhythm Connection” throughout the entire school year for 2021-2022.
CONTACT THE ARTS OUTREACH PROGRAM
[email protected]
646.468.0710