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ASASE YAA CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION
Brooklyn, NY · EIN 352381871 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE B99 · Education · Medium ($1M-$10M) · asaseyaaent.org
revenue
$1.1M
expenses
$904K
net assets
$81K
employees
0
program ratio
74%
mission · from form 990

Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting African Diaspora arts and culture. Through its programsAsase Yaa School of the Arts Childrens Camp Arts Outreach and African American Dance Theaterit empowers the community by offering dance and music

profile · synthesized from sources

Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit promoting African Diaspora arts and culture through performance, education, and community engagement. The organization operates youth-focused programs in dance, music, theater, and cultural history, serving K–12 students in New York City public and charter schools. It also produces professional dance theater performances and original musical productions that celebrate African and African American heritage.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

African American Dance Theater
Professional dance theater company producing original concert works such as "Drum Love," "Ghana: The Place Where the Chief Sleeps," and "Djembe in the New Millennium" that celebrate African and African American cultural narratives
Arts Outreach Program
In-school residencies in dance, music, theater, and visual arts for K–12 students, aligned with NYC DOE Social and Emotional Learning standards, featuring workshops and performances based on the original play "The Mad Scientist"
Asase Yaa Workshops
Themed "edutainment" workshops such as "Dancing Through Africa," "Rhythm of the Drum," and "Kwanzaa Time" offered in 30–45 minute formats for schools and community organizations
Children’s Productions
Student-performed musical and dance productions including "Hip Hop Kingdom," "Wale and the Cocoa Village," and "Mansa Musa" designed for school auditoriums and cultural education
Mad Scientist Choral Ensemble
Vocal program where students learn choral singing, rap, and spoken word to perform original and traditional songs inspired by the "Mad Scientist" narrative
West African Djembe Drum Program
Instruction in traditional West African drumming techniques, rhythms, and cultural context, emphasizing historical understanding and technical mastery of the Djembe
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Comprehensive K–12 Arts Education 2 activities
    • Delivering Arts Outreach Programs to NYC Schools
      Provides arts education and performance programming to public and charter schools across New York City through the Arts Outreach Program, which has operated continuously for 16 years. The program serves 26 schools annually with one-time professional productions such as The Mad Scientist, interactive workshops in dance, drumming, visual arts, and theater, and conceptually themed presentations like “Dancing Through Africa” and “Rhythm of the Drum” that include live performance and educational content on African history and folklore.
    • Operating the Asase Yaa School of the Arts
      Provides comprehensive arts education to youth aged 3 to 18 through instruction in African and African diasporic dance, drumming, modern, hip hop, ballet, tap, African history, musical theater, acting, and musical instrument performance. The school operates a 3,500 square foot studio in Brooklyn with wood-sprung floors and accessible facilities, offering fitness and dance classes with a capacity of 20 participants per session to maintain an intimate learning environment.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Hosting annual cultural festivals and galas
      Organizes and hosts major annual public events including the Art Is Alive Festival, Rhythms & Movements Festival, and the Dreams In Action Gala. The Art Is Alive Festival features over 20 hours of cultural programming, 10 dance classes, music performances, workshops, family activities, and a 6-hour block party finale. The Dreams In Action Gala is part of the organization’s 25th-anniversary celebrations and serves as a fundraising and community recognition event.
  • Original Dance Performance Production 1 activity
    • Producing and performing with the Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater
      Produces and presents original live dance and theatrical performances through the Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater and Youth Ensemble, including full-length concert productions and abbreviated performances at schools, festivals, and private events. The company has created and produced over 35 original live productions, performed at major venues including Lincoln Center, Apollo Theater, Carnegie Hall, and internationally in South Africa and Brazil, and has been featured on NBC’s "New Amsterdam" and in the Dance Africa festival at BAM.
  • Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
    • Running the Children's Summer Arts Camp
      Operates a 6-week multidisciplinary summer performing arts day camp for youth ages 4–13 in Brooklyn, NY, established in 2006. The program includes daily instruction in writing, dancing, music, singing, drama, set building, costumes, choreography, staging, lighting, and sound, culminating in an original live theater production created and performed by campers. The camp also features morning circle gatherings, games, arts and crafts, field trips, and African Flag Day celebrations.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Developing youth talent and professional pathways
      Provides professional training and development opportunities for youth, resulting in alumni performing with major artists such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, Drake, and Sean Paul, and securing representation with talent agencies like Block Entertainment. Over 1,000 dancers and musicians have received professional training through the organization’s programs and have performed with the company.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$1.09M
Contributions & grants$554K51%
Program service revenue$535K49%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$6K
expenses
Total expenses$904K
Program expenses74%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$171K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$335K
Cash$68K
Investments$0
Liabilities$254K
Net assets$81K
Liquid reserves0.9 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +83.2%
relationships · 50

Who they work with

  • Alvin Ailey American Ballet Partner — Sustained long-term connection supporting dancer development and career pathways.
  • Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Partner — Collaborated on the production of "The Call," which features music from Asase Yaa's album "Drum Love."
  • Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Partner — Collaborated with Asase Yaa through shared programming and workshops where Kofi Williams performed as a musician.
  • Apollo Theater Partner — Performed at the premiere of HBO’s “Sing Your Song” documentary about Harry Belafonte.
  • Apollo Theater Partner — Presented performances at the venue
  • Arizona State University Partner — Performed or conducted workshops at Arizona State University.
  • Asase Yaa African American Theater Network — Professional dance and drum ensemble under the Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation that performs internationally.
  • Asase Yaa Theater Company Network — Adult performance group under the foundation that presents local theatrical productions.
  • BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) Partner — Presented performances at BAM's "Dance Africa" series.
  • Bang the Drum Festival Partner — Presented performances at the international festival in Rotterdam
  • Bernice Johnson performing arts school Partner — Zakiya Harris attended this performing arts school in Queens, NY, where she began her dance training.
  • Block Entertainment Partner — Partner agency that places Asase Yaa-trained dancers with major artists for tours and performances.
  • Brooklyn Academy of Music Partner — Hosted Asase Yaa’s participation in the Dance Africa festival in 2005.
  • Brooklyn Academy of Music Partner — Hosted company performances as part of the "Dance Africa" program.
  • Brooklyn Academy of Music Partner — Performed multiple times at DanceAfrica New York.
  • Brooklyn Academy of Music Partner — Presented performances at the venue
  • Brooklyn community Partner — Longstanding service and engagement with the Brooklyn community through cultural programming.
  • Bucknell University Partner — Performed or conducted workshops at Bucknell.
  • Carnegie Hall Partner — Presented performances at the venue
  • Carolyn Devore Partner — Zakiya Harris attended Carolyn Devore’s dance school and credits her as the most influential teacher in her early development.
  • Con Edison Funder — Invests in the organization's vision and growth.
  • Council Member Chi Osse Government — Invests in the organization's vision and growth.
  • Dance Theater of Harlem Partner — Sustained long-term connection supporting dancer development and career pathways.
  • Dinizulu African Dancers, Drummers & Singers Partner — Professional African dance company in which Kofi Williams trained; recognized as the oldest African dance company in America.
  • Dr. Susan S. McKinney Secondary School of the Arts Partner — Zakiya Harris served as a Certified Dance Teacher and Arts Coordinator at this New York City public school.
  • First Child Society Funder — Funded the 2003 concert “Africa: A Journey in Dance” that launched the Asase Yaa African-American Dance Theater.
  • Harlem School of the Arts Partner — Sustained long-term connection supporting dancer development and career pathways.
  • Howard Gillman Foundation Funder — Invests in the organization's vision and growth.
  • Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Ongoing supporter that contributed $25,000 to the 25th Anniversary Fundraising Initiative and provided a $25,000 matching grant.
  • Howard University Partner — Performed or conducted workshops at Howard.
+ 20 more
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Arts-Integrated Social and Emotional Learning
    methodology: arts_integrated_sel
    By integrating performing arts with Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) standards and academic content, the organization supports youth self-expression, community engagement, and identity development, because artistic practice reinforces emotional regulation, compassion, and cognitive growth in tandem with cultural education.
  • Cultural Storytelling as Identity and Education
    methodology: cultural_storytelling_education
    By using traditional Akan methods, original productions, and cultural fusion in dance and music, the organization counters monolithic narratives about Africa and teaches cultural diversity, because storytelling through art transmits identity, history, and shared humanity more effectively than didactic instruction alone.
  • Culture-Based Youth Empowerment
    methodology: culture_based_youth_development
    By engaging youth in African diaspora arts, cultural storytelling, and lived cultural experiences, the organization fosters confidence, identity, and personal transformation, because cultural grounding is seen as a catalyst for holistic development and changed life trajectories.
  • Intergenerational Community Strengthening Through Cultural Arts
    methodology: intergenerational_community_reciprocity
    By offering free, accessible, and family-centered arts programming—including festivals, wellness activities, and interactive performances—the organization strengthens community bonds and promotes reciprocity, because shared cultural expression across generations builds resilience, belonging, and collective joy.