ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Founded in 1994 by C. Brian Williams, Step Afrika! is the first professional company dedicated to the tradition of stepping. It now ranks as one of the top ten African-American dance companies in the United States.

The Company blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities, traditional South African dances, and a wide variety of contemporary and folkloric art forms. Performances are much more than dance shows; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor and audience participation.

Step Afrika! promotes stepping as an educational tool for young people, focusing on teamwork, academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding. The Company reaches tens of thousands of Americans each year through a 50-city tour of colleges and theatres and performs globally as Washington, DC’s one and only Cultural Ambassador. Step Afrika! has earned Mayor’s Arts Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education (2005); Innovation in the Arts (2008); and Excellence in an Artistic Discipline (2012); and most recently performed at the White House for President Barack Obama and the First Lady.

Step Afrika! is featured prominently at the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African-American History & Culture with the world’s first stepping interactive.

To learn more, visit www.stepafrika.org