Asase Yaa African American Dance Theatre

Artistic director Yao Ababio formed Asase Yaa Dance theatre in the summer of 2001. Asase Yaa is a group of young inspired artist showing the connection between Africa and African-Americans. The Ensemble consists of musicians, dancers and singers with training in various disciplines.

The company also has an African-American "Griot" that recites the history of African-Americans. They bring their experiences and artistic skills together to present performances that teach audiences the richness of the African Diaspora. The members of Asase Yaa have traveled to various countries including Japan, Korea, Paris, Amsterdam, Iceland, Ghana, Guinea, and Angola. Their repertoire consists of ballets of their own creative works.

Asase Yaa host an annual benefit concert at York College in Jamaica, NY where showcase different African-American dance companies based in the New York tri-state area and Washington D.C. metropolitan area. This concert glorifies the contributions that African-Americans devote to African dance and music. Asase Yaa was created to bring joy to audiences through their exciting and colorful presentations.

Illstyle and Peace Productions

Illstyle & Peace Prodouctions is a multicultural dance company based in Philadelphia and founded in 2002 by Brandon "Peace" Albright and Forrest "Getemgump" Webb. They create work rooted in contemporary and old school hip-hop. Working from an eclectic mix of dance and performance disciplines including tap, ballet, house dancing, DJing and Beatboxing; Illstyle & Peace Productions create a unique new style of hip-hop. I&PP has toured to critical acclaim both nationally and internationally and is committed to delivering a positive message to audiences young and old. The company's work celebrates the art of hip-hop by adding an urban style to traditional moves in order to create a new step.

The New York Times has described Illstyle & Peace Productions' work as "a hip-hop revue with killer dancing". Most recently, critic Roslyn Sulcas of the Times has stated that "the ensemble displayed some of the most dazzling breaking techniques I've ever seen, while Mr. Albright's choreography possessed a sly humor and an adept sense of spatial composition. Watching these dancers was like watching the greatest ballet virtuosos, each fighting gravity and the appearance of effort, and demanding and getting the impossible from the human body. They were fabulous."

Illstyle & Peace Productions has performed at BAM/Dance Africa; Brooklyn, NY; Open Look Festival, St Petersburg, Russia; The XIII Annual Contemporary Dance Conference and Performance Festival, Bytom, Poland; Dancing in the Streets/Hip-hop Generations Next, New York, NY; Philly Live Arts Festival, Philadelphia, PA; Brock University, St Catharines, Ontario; Dance Place, Washington, D.C.; Calgary International Children's Festival, Calgary, Alberta; Rialto Center for the Arts, Atlanta, GA; The Ordway Performing Arts Center, St Paul, MN; The Egg Center for the Performing Arts, Albany, NY; Summer Stages Dance, Concord, MA; Jacob's Pillow, Becket, MA; Celebrate Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY; Aaron Davis Hall, New York, NY; San Francisco Hip-hop Dance Festival, San Francisco, CA; Dance Adventure Stage, Chicago, IL; among others.

The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble

The UNIVERSAL African Dance & Drum Ensemble, is a group made up of talented African-Americans and Africans who have been taught by some of the best teachers in America and of course by some of the best African teachers since 1984. They have made great accomplishments with their traditional, sensational, electrifying and amazing performances of Stilt Walkers, Dancers, Drummers, Ground Masquerades, Drama and a very exciting Acrobatic Show. The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble has performed at many prominent and prestigious events in this country, including performing for and honoring leaders of countries, celebrities, politicians, religious, business and community leaders. They have also represented the beauty of African culture by performing and being viewed by millions on cable, local, national and international television.

Blessed and sanctioned to be one of the BEST and the most exciting African Dance and Drum ensembles in the USA. In addition the Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble were chosen and endorsed by world renowned historians, scholars and artists in America and Africa to represent the USA at the World Festival of Black Arts and Culture (FESMAN) in Dakar, Senegal, Africa in December 2010, where over 80 nations presented their best. At this historical event Universal performed in Saint-Louis, Goree Island, Dakar, Senegal, AFRICA. All 69 active members of the Dance & Drum Ensemble are advanced Martial Artists (Karate) practitioners, and many are local, national and world Karate champions.

Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble has been blessed with five outstanding stilt walkers along with our famous stilt walker, Pasha the Stilt walker who is also considered by scholars as one of the best stilt walkers in America. It is tradition that the masquerade or the stilt walker's identity remains a mystery. Nevertheless, we will inform you that he is a 5th Degree Master Black Belt, National and World Karate Champion and is also a graduate at the UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a Master's Degree in Music Education.