Media advisory:  Step Afrika Offers Class, Performance for MU and Community

Feb. 11, 2009

Story Contact: Jeffrey Beeson, (573) 882-9144, BeesonJ@missouri.edu

WHAT: During an interactive seminar, the Step Afrika ensemble will delve into the history of stepping, correlating it to traditional African and African-American dances like the hambone, ring shout and tap dance for an audience at the University of Missouri.

Following the class, Step Afrika will debut a performance of the different types of African stepping and dance including African-American fraternity and sorority stepping, the gumboot dance and the South African Zulu dance. During this presentation the audience is encouraged to participate and learn basic steps.

Demonstrating the universal skills of teamwork, discipline and commitment through movement of the body, Step Afrika is the first professional company dedicated to stepping. With a desire to entertain, the troupe also strives to raise awareness for the culture that created stepping, while building connections among people and highlighting the similarities in dance forms, lives and communities.

The ambassadors of Step Afrika are college graduates who present and teach the art of stepping to children and adults of all ages.

WHO: Events are free and open to the public.                        

WHEN & WHERE: The StepAfrika class will take place at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 14 in the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center, at MU.                                    

The performance will be at 7 p.m. in Jesse Auditorium.

NOTE: University of Missouri sponsors include the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center, the MU Chancellor's Diversity Initiative, the MU International Center, the MU Black Studies Program, the Office of the Vice Provost of International Affairs, and the School of Health Professions. The City of Columbia's Office of Cultural Affairs, the Organization Resource Group, and the Afro-Romance Institute also are supporting the events.

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