By Kara Reedy—
Brian Williams’ show Step Afrika! draws from a practice recognized by traditionally African American fraternities and sororities as “stepping,” which, as explained during the presentation, “is a highly energetic, polyrhythmic, percussive dance.” The creation of stepping stemmed from the early 1900s when more and more African Americans were able to attend colleges and universities for the first time in the United States. Stepping became an integral part of university culture for African-American students who had found support within fraternities and sororities. The engagement with the community through stepping acted as a beacon from which a message of “love, pride, and respect” was broadcast. The performers from Friday night’s show ensured that the same message would translate to their audience by forming a new community, banding the viewers and dancers together.
Collaboration was an essential part of the performance and the organization of Step Afrika! as a whole. Midway through the production, audience members were invited to stand on stage alongside the dancers. The teaching of stepping has long been customary for the company, with a collective commitment to making their younger viewers feel the energy inherent in stepping for themselves. With hefty amounts of encouragement from the members of Step Afrika! and the crowd, the volunteers were able to learn and practice. The spreading of art and music is valuable, especially for those who would otherwise never be exposed to the art form that is stepping. Nurturing confidence and community from a young age is a valuable gift offered by the company of Step Afrika!, and it is a tradition that has stood firm within the organization since its inception.
The company tours the country yearly, traveling state-to-state and working to lift up audiences and students alike. The group works tirelessly to bring stepping to a broader audience, but it isn’t the only creative outlet they showcase. As a staunchly percussive organization, the members of Step Afrika! also display a dance native to South Africa, where the company’s founder learned of The Gumboot Dance, which is heavily featured in the show. The Gumboot Dance was used as a form of communication between Africans working in the mines of South Africa, a job that certainly had its share of hardships and dangers. It was made all the more frustrating for those working because of the communication issues. The miners came from all over Africa, which is a continent filled with dozens of competing languages. The workers created a new language entirely using their boots to combat the communication barrier. They would wear thick rubber shoes, somewhat resembling rain boots, to protect their feet while working. They discovered that they could use these boots to communicate, crossing the language barrier and even developing a cultural phenomenon along the way.
Step Afrika! was a brilliant display of talent, ability, and tradition and was truly uplifting and beautiful. It was impossible to stay still while the show played out; my own hands felt quite raw at the end of the show due to all the clapping. There is power in getting one’s audience to participate enough that they begin to feel the display in their bones. This show was not simply a presentation of stepping and the South African Gumboot Dance. Step Afrika! also provided an experience that would stay in the minds of those lucky enough to view the company in their element. The show gave the attending crowd a means by which they could further explore the complex and transcendent art form known as stepping and African dance.
For more information on upcoming events of the Performing Arts Series, get in touch with the P.A.S. staff. Step Afrika! is produced and presented by C. Brian Williams and directed by Lamar Lovelace. Visit the company website for more information regarding the organization at https://www.stepafrika.org/.
Contact Information
- Patti Liberatore Emial: [email protected]
- Gwenmarie Ewing Email: [email protected]
- Jack Troiano Email: [email protected]