Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation in collaboration with the Milton G. Bassin Performing Arts Center at York College have announced the co-production of and world premiere of a new musical, DREAMING OF 1975, and benefit featuring the Bessie Award-winning Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater that was Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 7pm is now postponed until July 11, 2020 due to COVID-19 Global Pandemic Outbreak.

DREAMING OF 1975 is an original musical produced by the Brooklyn-based Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater, which is celebrating its 19th performing season. It will feature a 20-member ensemble cast comprised of twelve dancers, seven musicians and seminal African music and dances that were rooted in the 70's. Yao Ababio, Co-Founder of the Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation and Artistic Director of the Dance Theater, wrote the musical and will also serve as the Director and Executive Producer. The Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater made its professional debut performance at York College in 2003. Proceeds from the benefit are being donated to the Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation.

"We're truly honored and excited to be returning to York College with a new work. They took a chance on us when we were in our very embryonic stages as dance/drum ensemble," noted Asase Yaa's Co-Founder and Executive Director, Osei Williams. We sincerely appreciate Kwame Clarke's (Interim Director of the Milton G. Bassin Performing Arts Center at York College) continued support of our artistic mission to present works that educate, enrich and enrich our community about the historical excellence and beauty in African arts and culture."

The musical is being presented at THE MILTON G. BASSIN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER at YORK COLLEGE, 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, Jamaica, New York on Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 7pm. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 718-262-2840, or visiting www.yorkpac.com.

DREAMING OF 1975 is inspired by the widespread birth of thousands of children born in 1975 during the rise of African Spirituality throughout the Diaspora. The work also pays homage to seminal African artists and pioneers who were devoted to building families and strong communities. Later a cultural renaissance emerged in the US (the "Black Arts Movement") when African American's openly embraced African aesthetics, culture, art forms, fashion its music which was driven by several notable artists such as: Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu, Baba Olatunji, Pearl Primus, Katherine Dunham, Chief Bey, and Nina Simone, among others.

ABOUT ASASE YAA CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION
The Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation has been one of Brooklyn's most revered non-profit cultural arts organizations over the past 18 years. Their core mission is to Enrich, Educate and Entertain, as well as stressing the importance of African aesthetics and cultural performing arts to youth and adults. The Foundation has developed a School of The Arts, (which services children ages 3-18) an annual Children's Summer Arts Camp, an Arts Outreach educational program that services schools in Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens, and the Bessie Award-winning African-American Dance Theater, which performs professionally world-wide.

ABOUT MILTON G. BASSIN PAC
The MGBPAC hosts a multi-cultural arts series featuring nationally and internationally renowned artists. Their mission is to bring exceptional, affordable events to the Jamaica Queens community to deepen the cultural profile. They look to continue presenting Grammy award-winning acts such as Cory Henry, Arturo O'Farrill, and Snarky Puppy; award-winning plays such as Platanos y Collard Greens and Welcome to America.At the MGBPAC, the vision is to inspire, nurture, challenge, amaze, educate and empower the audience to have open minds and hearts through the arts.

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