The Company

Brian Willams. Founder and Executive Director
A native of Houston Texas, Brian is a graduate of Howard University and learned to step as a member of his fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha in 1989. After living in Africa, he began to research stepping, exploring the many sides of this exciting, yet under-recognized, American art form and eventually founded Step Afrika in 1994. Brian has performed, lectured and taught in Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and throughout the United States. He is co-founder of the Step Afrika International Cultural Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Step Afrika UK in London, England. Brian has been cited as a "Civic/Community Visionary" by NV Magazine and "Nation Builder" by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. He is the recipient of an Artist Fellowship and numerous awards from the DC Commission on Arts & Humanities. Brian is featured in Soulstepping, the first book to document the history of stepping, and several documentaries discussing the art form.

Step Afrika maintains a roster of artists who have experience with groups of all ages, as well as various cultures. Guest Artists serve as performers, composers, and choreographers.

Company Members

Mfon Akpan has trained extensively in tap, ballet, jazz, modern, African dance and step. While attending the State University of New York at Stony Brook, she majored in biochemisrty and cultivated her stepping skills as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.  Mfon began her training at the Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center and had graced the stages of Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, the Apollo Theater, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Lincoln Center. Mfon has recently toured with the off-broadway show "Hoofin' 2 Hittin" where she was a featured stepper and dancer.

Sumayya Ali is establishing a career in opera, musical theater, jazz, and dance.  Ms. Ali holds a BA in Music from Spelman College, as well as a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory.  She has performed with Opera companies throughout the United States.  Hailing from the D.C. area, Ms. Ali is a product of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C.  A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Ms. Ali joined Step Afrika in 2006.

Delonte' Briggs is a native Washingtonian and a recent graduate of Virginia State University with a B.S. in Business Marketing.  Although performing isn't new to him, this tour brings new challenges and possibilities.  Forever a man of the Bloody Beta Gamma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., he continues to strive toward excellence in professionalism and performance.

LaTonya Grant, a native of Philadelphia began her dance training at age 5.  She has received training in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, African, and Hip-Hop dance at the New Freedom Theater, Philadanco, West Chester University and Koresh.  LaTonya is a graduate of West Chester University where she earned a B.A. in Psychology, founded the BSU Dance Co., and became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.  She later obtained her master's degree in Counseling Psychology.  LaTonya has had the opportunity to train and perform extensively with Montazh Performing Arts Company in Philadelphia. Ms. Grant joined Step Afrika in 2006.

Sandile Mbili was born in Kwazulu Nakal, South Africa. Mr. Mbili started dancing at the University of Natal with Uusabanhu Ngema and Boyzie Lekwane. In South Africa he has worked with Siwela Sonke dance Theatre, Pagh Dance Company, and Jazzart Dance Theatre. In the United States Mr. Mbili has worked with Forces of Nature, and the Juxtapower Dance Troupe. He joined Step Afrika in 2006.

Brian McCollum is a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. - Alpha Rho Chapter.  As an accomplished stepper, Brian has led step teams to both regional and national championships.  He is a featured artist in the documentaries, The Human Hambone and Soul Stepping and performed before thousands on network coverage of the 2004 National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals.  Brian joined Step Afrika in 2002.

Tamika McIntosh began her stepping career in high school. At the State University of New York at Stony Brook where she majored in psychology, she continued showcasing her performance skills in dance and step as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Although she has performed before large audiences, Step Afrika marks Tamika's debut as a professional performer.

Guest Artists

Kirsten Ledford is a native Washingtonian and is a lifelong student of the arts.  She has performed and taught throughout the world and plans to never stop stepping. Kirsten has extensive training in modern, West & South African dance traditions, ballet and stepping.  A certified teacher, she has her Master’s Degree in special education from John Hopkins University.

Aisha Lord received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Columbia University. Her extensive dance training includes modern, tap, West African dance and stepping.  Aisha is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is a licensed, practicing physical therapist, and the founder of ALLTherapy, Inc.  which specializes in the rehabilitation of dancers, athletes and general orthopedic populations.

Lesole Maine is a dancer/choreographer born and raised in South Africa.  A former member of South Africa’s critically-acclaimed modern dance company, Moving into Dance, Lesole now resides in Silver Spring, MD, where he performs and teaches frequently. 

Jason Nious has been stepping for over 10 years.  He has taught stepping to numerous schools, church, camps, festivals and Greek and non-Greek organizations across the country.  He’s also contributed choreography to various theatrical productions with the New York Fringe Festival, DC Hip Hop Theatre Festival.  In 2004 he was cited as one of DC’s Young Emerging Artists, receiving a grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.  He received his B.A. in Theatre from the University of New Mexico and currently performs with STOMP in Las Vegas.

LeeAnet Noble is a critically acclaimed solo tap star. She is also a choreographer and singer who has performed in a multitude of venues including Lincoln Center and Kennedy Center. She has performed with Chante Moore, Rachell Ferrell, Wynton Marsalis, and the Broadway cast of "Bring in Da Noise Bring in DA Funk".

David Pleasant is an award winning, percussion virtuoso, rhythm effects vocalist, composer and lecturer. He created "RiddimAthon!® Inc.," a performance and teaching method developed from a synthesis of African, Caribbean and African-American musical traditions featuring Gullah (Georgia and South Carolina's Sea Island) culture. He has brought his multi-faceted talents to performances and collaborations with a wide range of major artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Audra McDonald, Charles Gayle, Cecil Taylor, Erykah Badu, Harry Belafonte, the Muppets and the Winans.

Jakari Sherman, a native of Houston, Texas, is an intense performer, percussionist and student of stepping, whose experience in the art form extends over 12 years. He is coach and step choreographer for numerous successful competitive and community organizations, as well as director of the Houston Rockets’ G-Force Step Team. Jakari studied Management Information Systems at the University of Houston and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.