“Divided by origin to unite in rhythm”: Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble and Step Afrika! come together

Two dance troupes divided by origin to unite in rhythm

Written by Amanpa J. CRawFrorD for The Sun, published August 24, 2000

“One art form grew up in the Southern Appalachian mountains, evolving from the traditional
dances of Irish, Scottish and English settlers. The other came of age in the 1900s in black fraternities and sororities on American college campuses.

Step-dancing and stepping, two forms of percussive dance, may have similar names but are far removed from each other by race, culture and generations. Though they previously have had separate audiences — one white, one black — they will share the stage at the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis tomorrow and Saturday nights.

Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, an internationally known group based in Crownsville that performs Southern Appalachian clogging and a variety of other dances, will be joined at its annual performance at Maryland Hall by Step Afrika!, a 6-year-old Washington-based group that brings African-American collegiate stepping to a wider audience.

“This collaboration is really important because it is highlighting two uniquely American traditions and bringing them together for the first time,” said C. Brian Williams, founder of Step Afrika!.”

VIEW THE FULL 2000 ARTICLE HERE

Though their partnership in Annapolis was a historic first, this wasn’t the first time Step Afrika! and Footworks shared the stage! On Saturday, June 26, 1999, both Companies joined Step Aside for a production called Tappers with Attitude. Promising “100 Feet of Rhythm”, the Annual Concert promised a rumbling floor full of some of the most exciting percussive dancers to hit the stage in the Washington, DC area.

VIEW THE FULL 1999 PROGRAM HERE