Step Afrika’s performances are ideal for theatres, outdoor festivals, concert halls, university and hotel facilities, community and recreation centers and schools. The load-in is small and the production can be quickly adapted to practically any performance venue.
Performances
Special Production
Step Afrika's largest performance features up to sixteen performers including traditional West African drummers and is most appropriate for large theatres and concert halls. Repertory includes West African traditional dance & drumming, South African contemporary & traditional dance styles and songs, tap, slam poetry, and, of course, fraternity and sorority styles of stepping. Run time: two hours with one twenty minute intermission. Contact our agents for more information.
Theatre Production
Features a minimum of seven performers and includes choreography from the Special Production including the South African gumboot & Zulu dance, slam poetry, and, of course, fraternity and sorority stepping excluding West African dance & drumming and tap. Run time of one hour twenty minutes without an intermission.
Theatre Production with Residency
Commonly the structure preferred by presenters, this format includes the above Theatre Production (Public performance) with an addition of school performances, residencies and/or master classes. This format can run from 1 to 3 days and outreach activities commonly follow the programs found in the Stepping into Schools Arts Education Activities section below. Contact our agents for more information.
College/University Production
Features a minimum of five performers in an interactive & entertaining presentation that includes fraternity and sorority stepping styles, the gumboot dance and the South African Zulu dance. Audience participation is encouraged by a mini- step workshop during the performance that encourages students to learn a basic step. Run time of one hour. Contact our agents for more information.
Solemates
A production created by Step Afrika and Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble. From stepping to step dance, from the gold mines of South Africa to the coal mines of Southern Appalachia, this two-hour show features dance traditions associated with both white and black communities in America, while tracing the roots of these forms in African dance, Irish dance, and more. [Currently not in production.]
Step Afrika is a model in the use of stepping as an educational tool and has been dedicated to youth and family audiences since its inception. Our youth programming has been developed through training and close consultation with the prestigious John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Education Department. Step Afrika has been a Kennedy Center Artist-in-Residence since 1998.
Stepping with Step Afrika
A highly interactive 50-minute performance for K-12 students that highlights the rhythm, physicality and history of stepping, and culminates in a group activity to get K-12 students on their feet. Highlights the ties between stepping and college life and academic achievement and introduces the concepts of teamwork, discipline and commitment. Performers incorporate world traditions, demonstrated through the lively South African gumboot dance. Students enjoy learning basic step choreography and discover how dance brings people and cultures together. Contact our agents for more information.
Step Up to College
A week-long residency about stepping styles and their history guided by our own Student Activities Journal. Students learn about the distinctions of African American fraternities and sororities (such as their commitment to leadership and community service) as well as their signature “step” (the main step or chant that proclaims the organization’s history). The week culminates in a tour to a college, where students witness stepping on a college campus and get a taste of the excitement of higher education. In a closing performance, students showcase their own step routines for family and friends. Must be scheduled for at least two schools concurrently. Contact our agents for more information.
Forward Steps
This extended residency program is available for students Grades 3-12 in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. Participating institutions enjoy weekly classes with Step Afrika artists for the entire school year; visits from guest artists and area step teams; and a curriculum tied to national and local content standards that emphasize both literacy and movement. Forward Steps is easily adjusted for different grade levels. Students benefit from the ongoing presence of mentors from within their community and a program that encourages teamwork and academic success. Contact our agents for more information.
Workshops
Workshops can vary in length and material can be adjusted for beginning to advanced students/dancers. The range of curriculum includes: basic step choreography, style and techniques as developed by fraternity and sorority steppers; master classes in the South African gumboot dance; and contemporary step techniques are also offered. Contact our agents for more information.
Lectures and Discussions on Stepping
Presentation on the history and development of stepping as an American art form, including an inside look at the historical timeline of the tradition. Facilitated by Step Afrika Founder C. Brian Williams. Contact our agents for more information.
Youth Conference
This day-long intensive is perfect for a Saturday afternoon, and walks new and experienced steppers through a series of workshops designed to give students Grades 3-12 critical information on the form and function of collegiate stepping. Tailor-made for the youth step team member or energetic student, the conference ends with a mini-exhibition where participants highlight lessons and choreography learned. A community service project is integrated into the program. The conference can be coupled with a Step Afrika performance for added excitement. Contact our agents for more information.
