Step Afrika!

Step Afrika's intricate kicks, stomps and rhythms mixed with spoken word pound the floor and fill the air. They are celebrating stepping, a uniquely American dance style created by African-American college students. Highlighting stepping's deep ties to academic achievement, the energetic five-member ensemble of college graduates mixes the power of stepping with universal lessons of teamwork, discipline and commitment. Combining chants, footsteps and claps, they also incorporate African traditions, demonstrated through a lively South African gumboot dance. Students enjoy learning basic step choreography and discover how dance unites people and cultures.  As the first professional company dedicated to stepping, Step Afrika performs worldwide and won the D.C. Mayor's Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education Award in 2006.

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Step Afrika! is the first professional company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping, a unique dance style whose roots lie in the African-American fraternity and sorority system.  Founded in 1994, the company is critically acclaimed for its efforts to promote an understanding of and appreciation for stepping and the dance tradition's use as an educational tool for young people worldwide.  Step Afrika! serves as a cultural ambassador for the United States, representing the nation at events around the world through special invitations from American embassies. Its signature event, the annual Step Afrika! International Cultural Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa, is the fruit of a ten-year collaboration with the Soweto Dance Theatre that unites artists from around the world.  The company is a model for the use of stepping in educational settings, espousing themes such as teamwork, academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding. Other performance highlights include the Kennedy Center, Smithsonian and Washington Performing Arts Society, in addition to an annual 50-city tour of American colleges and universities. 

Step Afrika! is a 2006 recipient of the Mayor's Art Award for Outstanding Contribution to Art Education, the highest designation for arts organizations in the District of Colombia.

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