Meet the Tiny Tots, Brooklyn’s newest dancers. They are among 60 children from Asase Yaa School of the Arts, and 250 children throughout Brooklyn, whose dance dreams are coming true through The Stars of New York Dance, thanks to House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.  

As part of his Fiscal Year 2023 Community Project Funding process, Leader Jeffries awarded The Stars of New York Dance $500,000 to expand access to dance education and training in Brooklyn to hundreds of children and youth. Approximately $2,000 will be allocated to each child to cover their tuition, class uniforms, and dance costumes so that they experience a year of dance education and training for free.

The Stars of New York Dance is contracting with reputable community-based dance organizations within New York’s 8th Congressional District, like Asase Yaa School of the Arts, to deliver a comprehensive and engaging experience to young dancers, grades K-12, that includes learning a variety of dance styles, such as African, ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, hip hop, and tap. The dance students will develop self-expression, creativity, coordination, discipline, and a sense of community and belonging.

Asase Yaa School of the Arts Tiny Tot Zoey Griffith.

For the Tiny Tots—many who are dancing for the first time—they’re learning about their bodies and how they move, and are making new friends.

"This is my first time dancing. My favorite style is hip hop, and I love doing cartwheels and being with my friends," said Zoey Griffith, age 6, who is enrolled in Asase Yaa's Tiny Tots program and is learning African, ballet, and tap. 

“This is Zoey's first dance experience, and she loves it," shared Zoey's mom Donna Miller. "I've watched her become more expressive and creative in everything she does. We were listening to a church service one Sunday, and she began creating movements to the choir's songs. She's never seen praise dance, but she was actually choreographing a praise dance. Dance has also been a great way to engage her away from her tablet and the TV. She wakes me up every Saturday morning and says, 'Mom, we have dance today!' Dance gives her a routine and is something fun that she looks forward to."

THE TINY TOTS OF ASASE YAA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS WITH ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ZAKIYA HARRIS

CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, INCLUDING ASASE YAA’S LEVEL 1 DANCE STUDENTS, AGES SEVEN TO 10, ARE THRILLED ABOUT LEARNING DANCE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

"I am so grateful for the tireless work of The Stars of New York Dance that ensures that not only students of Asase Yaa but students throughout Brooklyn are given the opportunity to discover, explore, and develop their artistic voices through dance," said Zakiya Harris, Artistic Director of Asase Yaa School of the Arts.

"It's heartwarming to see the positive impact dance is having on so many students and their families. Hearing directly from parents who are expressing gratitude for their children's enjoyment of our dance program reaffirms the impact that dance has on children's personal development," shared K. Osei Williams, Executive Director of Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation, the parent organization of Asase Yaa School of the Arts.“

"We are so grateful to House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for this generous award that is making children’s dance dreams come true," said The Stars of New York Dance Founder Cheryl Todmann. "Dance is not just an art form; it’s a form of education. It helps build children's cognitive and social skills, confidence, literacy, creativity, and their bodies. Because of Leader Jeffries, hundreds of children in New York's 8th Congressional District are benefitting from the transformative power of dance."

The Stars of New York Dance will highlight each dance organization it's contracting with to deliver rich dance education and training experiences to children in Brooklyn from the Community Project Funding award from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. 


Contact: Cheryl Todmann | cheryl@starsnydance.org | 917-623-7299