Akwesi M Asante - Has served in the performance arts community for over 42 years, having worked in varied genres, from actor, dancer, acrobat/stuntman, musician, circus arts performer and martial artist.

 

Asante has worked on and off Broadway, regional theater, film and television. His concert stage highlights have included, Stevie Wonder’s “In Square Circle” U.S. Tour and Atlantic City, with the late greats, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz. He has performed Brooklyn Academy of Music’s (BAM) first three-decades, Dance Africa, since it’s inception, founded by the late great Baba Chuck Davis. Dance companies have included: The Chuck Davis Dance Company, The Charles Moore Dance Theater, The Ladji Camara African Dancer and Drummers, The Forces of Nature Dance Company and companies guest artist. Akwesi has toured throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia, collaborated with other artist. From 1997-2002 contracted with TheatreWorks USA, America’s largest theater for young and family audiences. Akwesi remains a longtime member of the theatrical unions AEA and SAG/AFTRA.

 

After the 2001 horrific World Trade Center incident and along with his own personal and health concerns, Akwesi found himself segueing into the Health, Wellness and Healing Arts community. He has worked with seniors, teaching movement and exercise since 1992, and from 2003 worked consistently in the Health, Wellness and Healing Arts arena, privately and through group classes with children, adults and seniors.

 

Akwesi served as a consultant for Catholic Charities, Services for the Aging and Arthritis Foundation. Along with fitness he’s taught adult and senior Self-Defense and Situational Awareness, privately and for organizations, such as, the Brooklyn Public Library, since 2005. Akwesi’s background includes: visual & performing artist, boxing/kick-boxing, circus arts, performer/teacher, and remains a student/practitioner of Qigong and Bodywork. From the 90s-2000, Akwesi also taught Circus Arts - Juggling, Stilt-walking, Acrobatics, Uni-cycling and more, with lengthy residences in several states.

 

As a runner he’s participated in 5 NYC Marathons and has trained numerous clients, from different walks of life and ages, in running their very own Marathons, here in the U.S. and abroad. And has served as a warm-up coach for NYRRC pre-races. Asante’s had the long pleasure of have visited Omega Institute for Holistic Health, for over 30 years, as a student and as teaching artist and has been continually teaching there as a movement consultant for over 15 years.