Step Afrika Energizes Savannah Audience


Step Afrika
Step Afrika

Depending on the time you were passing by the Fine Arts Auditorium at Armstrong Atlantic State University on Thursday, September 23rd, you might have wondered if there was a Greek step show going on, or the sounds of South African gumboot dancers.

The audience was dazzled and energized by the precisioned talent and superb showmanship of the Step Afrika Ensemble sponsored by the Savannah Cultural Arts Commission and Armstrong Student Body Government and the Multicultural Affairs Department.

It is the first company dedicated to the tradition of stepping. This unique dance tradition is a high energetic percussionistic, play rhythmic style influenced by military precision and African cultural heritage.

This Washington, D.C. based company, under the direction of its founder/executive director, C. Brian Williams, artistic director, Jakari Sherman, and a group of eleven young college educated men and women serve as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. all over the world.

The program began with a thirty minute video called “many Steps: The Origin and Evolution of African-American Collegiate Stepping.”

The audience was then witness to the most breathtaking performance of stepping, singing and acting, followed by a question and answer period. The group used just two words as an inspirational message to all the young people present, “just finish!” For more information about the group and its mission and purpose go to www.stepafrika.org.

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