Without the initial introduction, it is easy to confuse the art of stepping with step dancing, or even stomping. The differences, however, will be perfectly clear to audiences after a visit this evening to Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center where Step Afrika!, a group of 100-plus accomplished student dancers, along with their mentors, become both teachers and entertainers of this fascinating, almost mind-boggling discipline. “I started Step Afrika! in 1994,” said founder and director, Brian Williams. We are the first company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping. And we celebrate and perform this [dance] around the world.”
Historian Jacqui Malone, in her book, “Steppin’ on the Blues” refers to this movement as “one of the most exciting dance forms to evolve in the 20th century.” And the 21st as well, since each year it becomes more and more popular and an important part of America’s artistic and cultural heritage.
| Onstage |
| Step Afrika! |
| Where: Millennium Stage , Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street, NW |
| When: 6 p.m. Sunday |
| Info: Free, kennedy-center.org, wpas.org, 1-800-444-1324 |
As a distinctive dance tradition, stepping originated from dance rituals practiced by historically black fraternities and sororities in the early 1900s. In stepping, the body is used as an instrument to create intricate rhythms and sounds through a combination of footwork, claps and spoken word. Stepping’s genises are associated with a long and rich tradition in African-based communities that use movement, words and sounds as communication.
[“Today] Step Afrika! also reaches out as an educational and motivational tool for teaching children,” Williams continued. “This year is our fifth time doing WPAS Summer Step Camp.”
Indeed, the Step Afrika! Camp sponsored by the Washington Performing Arts Society teaches children throughout the region this unique art form. Students work with 10 full-time StepAfrika! artists. These professional performers serve as cultural ambassadors for the United States, representing the nation at events around the world through special invitations from American embassies.
“This [student program] not only conditions the body and the mind, but also teaches [children] the importance of taking care of their bodies through what they eat, as well as the exercise and conditioning of their bodies to do the workshops and the routines each day,” said Kathy Brewington, WPAS assistant director of education.
To that end, the WPAS sponsored program provides nutritious breakfasts and lunches every day to 162 registered students, ages 9 to 18.
Step Afrika! take to the Kennedy Center this evening to promote their motto, “If we can dance together, then we can work together.”
