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, numerous awards from the DC Commission on Arts & Humanities and is featured in Soulstepping, the first book to document the history of stepping as well as several documentaries discussing the art form.  The Washingtonian Magazine recently cited Brian as one of “40 Washingtonians under 40” to watch in the years to come. 

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

Makeda Abraham is a native of Brooklyn, NY, and a recent graduate of Howard University with a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts/ Acting. She has studied and performed African dance for 14 years, dancing throughout college as a member of Nsaa Dance Ensemble. Makeda fell in love with stepping in high school and is proud to be a member of Step Afrika!

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.

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.

Brittany Hicks is a native of Richmond, Virginia and has a background in opera, musical theater, stepping and dance. While attending the University of Maryland at College Park, Brittany was under the tutelage of world renowned soprano Carmen Balthrop. A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc, Theta Nu Chapter, Brittany joined Step Afrika in 2007.

Ryan Johnson has been performing for over 10 years, dancing with such greats as the late Gregory Hines, Marvin Hamlish, Donnie McClurkin, Debbie Allen and cast members from Broadway's hit musical Bring In The Noise Bring In The Funk. He has studied jazz, hip hop, and many styles of tap. Ryan is currently a student at Towson University, working towards a degree in Theatre Production. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and joined Step Afrika! in 2006.

Aseelah Shareef began her dance training at the Palm Beach County School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, FL. As a teenager, she studied in the prestigious Alvin Ailey Summer Dance Program; has trained at the Urban Bush Women Summer Institutes in Brooklyn, New York; and performed with Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre. Aseelah is a graduate of Florida State University where she also served as step master for the Kappa Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She joined Step Afrika in 2007.

Jakari Sherman (Artistic Director) is a native of Houston, Texas, 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.

Guest Artists

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 and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Michael Forde ,a native of Brooklyn, NY, began dancing during the rise of the hip hop culture in the late 70's early 80's. With over 20 years of dance experience, he has developed his own Gospel shout dance technique, offering workshops both nationally and internationally. In 2005, Esquire Magazine voted him the best dressed man in NYC. Michael is a stylist and designer for M. Forde Designs.

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.

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.

Lesole Maine is the founder and artistic director of Lesole's Dance Project. Born in Sebokeng, South Africa, Lesole has worked with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater as well as companies in South Africa, France, and Canada. He has also performed and taught dance workshops in several countries including: Canada, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, France, Germany, Holland, Jordan, Lesotho, Malaysia, Nigeria, Portugal, Switzerland and the United States. He is currently working with Vincent Mantsoe on Project Men-Jaro, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, Step Afrika, and Dakshina: Daniel Phoenix Singh and Company. . 

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.

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.

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.

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.