Asase Yaa School of the Arts Gears Up for Largest Children's Summer Arts Camp

Brooklyn-based Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation and their School of the Arts program is gearing up for what they anticipate will be its largest Children's Summer Art Camp since its inception in 2006. The Camp, which specializes in servicing disenfranchised youth 4 - 13 years old from its surrounding communities has attracted over 1000 youth, averaging 70 youth per summer. This summer they are adding 30 additional slots. The day Camp is scheduled for six weeks, July 1 - August 9, Monday - Friday from 8:00 am - 5:00 PM. Tuition is $900 and there's a $50 Registration fee. The Camp is located at Asase Yaa's new home, PS 21, 180 Chauncey Street, Brooklyn, NY.

Osei Williams, the Executive Director of the Asase Yaa Cultural Foundation expressed genuine enthusiasm about the Camp's expansion, "We're very blessed and proud to be able provide an outlet for more youth in our community to experience our multidisciplinary performing arts and theater day camp. We are dedicated to teaching young artists many aspects of the arts including; dance, music, singing, writing, drama, live production, costumes, choreography, set building, staging, lights and sound." Every year attendees create an original theater production which is presented as the finale to their families and friends to end camp.

"We're extremely grateful that our new location, PS 21, which is larger than our previous location, has enabled us to offer more youth an opportunity to attend our Camp," he added.

This summer will mark the Camp's 13th year and follows up last year's stellar program. Last year's play, the "HBCU Show" was recently featured and presented seven times as part of the "Onstage Weeksville Theater Series held at the Weeksville Heritage Center in (February 13-16). The play was inspired by and in support of historically Black colleges and universities throughout the United States. The HBCU Show is an original story written by Williams which is based on six adolescents from Brooklyn, NY, who have the privilege to experience a Historically Black College & University national tour. Last year also marked the second year that Goldman Sachs sponsored the Camp's celebration and African Flag Day activities (inspired by the international African Flag Day, August 17th). Asase Yaa's flag day pays homage to the entire continent of Africa.

The Camp is dedicated to creating a memorable experience that can be shared between the attendees and their families and many campers return for multiple years. Some of the young alumni are also building thriving careers in the entertainment business such as, Shahadi Wright-Joeseph, (appears in Jordon Peele's new hit film, "US"), Chinua Payne (currently a cast member in "Lion King") and Vianka Winborne (a featured dancer in Drake's national concert tour last year), among others. In addition, the camp attracts the volunteer support of teachers who were principal dancers with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Company, Les Ballet Africans of Guinea and the long-running Broadway show, "Stomp," to further enrich the campers educational experience.

In addition, youth are given the opportunity to enjoy other camp activities such as arts & crafts, table games, drumming, dancing and taking field trips twice a week to either museums or amusement parks within the Tri-State area.

For more information go to: www.asaseyaaent.org, email info@asaseyaaent.org or contact Rubie L. Williams, (917) 789-0563

To post a comment, you must register and login.