Stepping? Step Afrika!

     I step from my home to my car, and vice versa at the end of my day, and that`s pretty much it! This blog is not about me walking (stepping) to my car and house, but about an art form called stepping, and one of the leading professional companies dedicated to stepping. Step Afrika! is ranked one of the top ten African American dance companies in the US.

     Founded in 1994, Step Afrika! is organized as a charitable 501(c)(3) organization. Step Afrika! is the first profession company dedicated to stepping. Step Afrika! is devoted to promoting an appreciation for stepping. Based in Washington, DC, Step Afrika! offers workshops, residency programs, and a variety of K-12, and College arts education activities, international cultural exchange programs, and performances, such as in-school programs, youth ensembles, summer camps, and scholars program for arts education offerings.

     Beginning as an exchange program with the Soweto Dance Theatre of Johannesburg, South Africa, Step Afrika! is a non-profit organization that tours nationally and internationally. Step Afrika! is a professional company that combines South African gumboot dance with African American Stepping.

     Step Afrika! combines percussive dance styles practice by African American fraternities and sororities, traditional African dance, and a variety of other dance and art forms. Step Afrika! integrates dance with storytelling, songs, humor, and audience participation. Step Afrika! promotes stepping as an educational tool, focusing on teamwork, academic achievement, and cross-cultural understanding.

     Step Afrika! also collaborates with other arts organizations. Step Afrika! has collaborated with Symphony In Step. This collaboration is a partnership between arts organizations, and combines stepping with classical music.