Step Afrika! partners with the Young Audiences of Arts Education Virginia and Class Acts Arts, bolstering arts education performances and workshops

In 2005, Step Afrika! partnered with the Young Audiences of Arts Education Virginia and Class Acts Arts, bolstering arts education performances and workshops. This was also the third year that the Company worked closely with Washington Performing Arts!

Step Afrika! appeared in the Young Audiences of Arts Education Virginia’s Multicultural Arts listings, alongside Okuva Edda: A Cultural Extravaganza, Tales of the Griot, Afro-Brazilian Dance and Music.

Step Afrika! Workshop Listing for Young Audiences of Arts Education Virginia’s Multicultural Arts:

Published in the fall of 2005

“STEPPING, STEP AFRIKA!

Learn the value of education, teamwork, discipline, and commitment. Step Afrika! presents the motivational performance “Stepping” to inspire your students to be their best. Students will experience the origins of this African American art form created in colleges and universities across America. Stepping is an art form with ties to African dance and African American culture. Travel to the mines of South Africa to dance the gumboot, visit an African village, and participate on stage with the dancers. The entire audience will learn a brief routine and experience stepping for themselves.

Step Afrika is also available as a workshop experience that will create a greater understanding of the art of Stepping. Students will learn more about the origins of these African American dances and learn an entire dance incorporating clapping, footsteps, and spoken words.”

VIEW A COPY OF THE 2005 PROGRAM BOOK

Step Afrika! Workshop Listing in the Class Act Arts Artist Directory:

Published in the fall of 2005

“STEP AFRIKA!, HIGH ENERGY PERCUSSIVE DANCES

Step Afrika! presents an explosive and dynamic display of a high-energy art form called stepping, a unique dance style whose roots lie in the African-American fraternity and sorority system. Highlighting stepping’s deep ties to college life and academic achievement, this energetic six-member ensemble of college graduates introduces the principle stepping concepts of teamwork, discipline, and commitment. Combining chants, songs, footsteps, and claps, Step Afrika! artists incorporate African traditions, demonstrated through a lively South African gumboot dance, into this highly percussive and rhythmic American dance style. Students enjoy learning basic step choreography and discover how dance brings people and cultures together. Performance highlights include the Kennedy Center, stages across Europe, South America, Africa, and universities nationwide.

“Always visually and musically exciting.” – Washington Post

VIEW A COPY OF THE 2005 ARTIST DIRECTORY