By Bernice Elizabeth Green
For more than two decades, Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation, Inc. (AY) has inspired families, young people and the community to learn about their history and culture through the study and performance of the dance and music of the African Diaspora.

And a powerful testament to the nonprofit’s success is that many former students return to teach others at a school where extended family is a practice not a category.
So, it’s fitting that the “artistic-driven” organization, under the leadership of director and a co-founder K. Osei Williams should celebrate itself at very first gala, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY

“Asase Yaa has been instrumental in enriching the lives of many individuals, families, and artists in Brooklyn and beyond, transcending barriers with its diverse arts programs,” Williams, AY, co-founder and current executive director,” told Our Time Press.

“Through these initiatives,” Osei noted in an emailed response to questions, “communities have flourished culturally and educationally, marking a significant evolution over the years. At least two generations of New Yorkers having reaped the benefits of our programs.”

“We have several examples of families that has been through our program and now they are leading major projects in the world,” Osei told Our Time Press, through an email interview. One example, he cited was the large family of brothers, sisters, cousins “and so many more in the Akowe/Halsey/Angaza/Santiago family who have been in engaged Asase for more than 20 years.

“We probably had about 15 direct members from their family and another 30 members that came because of this amazing family. They have been with us in every facet of our program.”
And these families are passing on their learnings, Osei told Our Time Press.

“Some teach for us, others are on our gala committee, and we still have a few that are in our program. This always a great feeling to see not only the impact of Asase Yaa but the impact of families that join us and we build together.”

May month is nationally observed as Mother’s Day, Dance and Awareness of Children’s Mental Health Month, among others. Osei Williams told Our Time Press: “The most therapeutic thing about dance is children are able to express their feelings through movement. And dance, in fact, always helps their self-awareness.

“Also, the confidence that’s created gives our students the motivation to feel free and entitled to do all that they love and live out any goals they have in life. The self-confidence relates to self-image as well as mental and spiritual evolution, he said. “Dance provides a sense of freedom and release and a major way that our students are free is we are aware that not all black kids aren’t born with ‘the typical ‘ballet body type’ but we encourage our students to be “proud” of who they are, where they come from and to always give their all.”