The Fruits of Our Labor at Arena Stage (Washington, DC)

As America marks 250 years, Step Afrika! premieres The Fruits of Our Labor—a powerful new production exploring rhythm, resilience, and the unfinished story of the American experience. Blending stepping, contemporary dance, percussion, and striking visual imagery, the work transforms the stage into a kinetic landscape pulsing with power, struggle, joy, and hope.

Performed by Step Afrika!’s electrifying ensemble, whose bodies become instruments, The Fruits of Our Labor examines what it means to build, to belong, and to believe in a nation still in the making. Through mesmerizing unison, explosive movement, and a bold palette of red, white, and blue, the production asks: What have we inherited? What are we still fighting to become?

Created in collaboration with artists Jakari Sherman, Conrad R. Kelly II, and Vusi Mdoyi, The Fruits of Our Labor pushes the boundaries of percussive dance while drawing from traditions that continue to shape Black expression and cultural identity across the diaspora.

Runtime is approximately 75–80 minutes with no intermission.