Step Afrika! to bring high-energy rhythm and dance performance to campus

Contemporary dance company Step Afrika! will perform at 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 23, in the Student Union, Room 340 D-I. The event, sponsored by the Campus Activities Board (CAB), is free and open to the public.

Founded in 1994, the dance company is the first professional ensemble dedicated to the tradition of stepping. It now ranks as one of the top 10 African American dance companies in the United States.

According to Sid Smith of the Chicago Tribune, “founder C. Brian Williams runs a top-notch troupe wonderfully adept at this fraternity-sorority African American tradition, an ensemble of fast, smooth stylists and musicians who take a fun-filled past time and turn it into art.”

Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities, along with African traditional dance and a variety of other dance and art forms. Performances integrate songs, storytelling, and audience participation.

The company 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 theatres and performs globally as a cultural ambassador.

More information is on the CAB website.