Step Afrika! is bringing rhythm, movement, and storytelling to New York City with two major cultural moments this summer. From a limited run of The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence at The Joyce Theater to a featured presence in The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Musical Bodies exhibition, audiences will experience the power of stepping on stage and in museum spaces in unforgettable ways.
Musical Bodies at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
June 7, 2026 – September 27, 2026
Opening June 7, The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Musical Bodies will feature Step Afrika!, a landmark exhibition exploring the connection between the human body and musical instruments across 4,000 years of art and culture. From ancient artifacts to contemporary works, the exhibition reveals how sound, form, and identity intersect across time and place.
“Step Afrika! operates at the crossroads of movement, rhythm, and cultural memory. In this exhibition, stepping serves as both a contemporary performance art and a tradition stemming from Black fraternity and sorority life. The body acts as an instrument, conveying identity, community, and shared history through sound and collective movement.”
– Lamar Lovelace, Executive Director of Step Afrika!
Step Afrika!’s inclusion highlights stepping as a powerful art form, where the body itself becomes instrument, rhythm, and story. From global traditions to contemporary expression, Musical Bodies invites visitors to experience how movement and music shape who we are.
Learn more about Musical Bodies at metmuseum.org/exhibitions/musical-bodies.
The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence at The Joyce Theater
June 10 – 21, 2026 | Co-presented by Step Afrika! and IMG Artists
This June, Step Afrika! makes its debut at The Joyce Theater with The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence, an innovative fusion of dance, history, and visual art that transforms the stage into a living canvas. Drawing inspiration from Jacob Lawrence’s The Migration Series (1940–41), this critically acclaimed performance captures the resilience, hope, and determination of millions of African Americans who journeyed northward in search of freedom and opportunity.
Through pulsating rhythms, percussive footwork, and stunning imagery, Step Afrika! brings to life a story that is both deeply personal and profoundly American. Don’t miss this limited opportunity to experience The Migration in New York City. To purchase tickets, visit joyce.org/performances.