The Office of Greek Life, Center for Campus Involvement, Department of AfroAmerican and African Studies, and the Center for World Performance Studies were pleased to bring Step Afrika to campus on Thursday, January 26th at 7:00pm in the Mendlessohn Theater.
Over the past 21 years Step Afrika! has grown to become one of the top 10 African American Dance Companies in the US and Washington DC’s largest African American arts organization. Step Afrika! began as an exchange program with the Soweto Dance Theatre of Johannesburg, South Africa, and has expanded to become a national and international touring company presenting performance, residencies and workshops worldwide. The Company blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities, African traditional dance and influences from a variety of other dance and art forms. Performances are much more than dance shows; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor, and audience participation. The blend of technique, agility, and pure energy makes each performance unique and leaves the audience with their hearts pounding. Step Afrika! promotes stepping as an educational tool for young people, focusing on teamwork, academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding. It reaches tens of thousands of Americans each year through a 50-city tour of colleges and theaters and performs globally as a cultural ambassador.
This event brought awareness of the performance art of stepping to the Michigan community, while educating the audience about stepping's traditional African roots and how it correlates with the historically African American fraternities and sororities.