-Photo Courtesy of Step Afrika

Claire Oliver

Linfield’s annual Diversity Week kicks off with a performance by the Step Afrika dance group, spreading appreciation and
understanding for the
culture behind their distinctive art form.

The show will take place April 14 at 8 p.m. in Ice Auditorium.

The dance troupe is the first professional group devoted to their form of stepping, which draws roots from both African and
African-American culture.

Since its inception in 1994, Step Afrika has performed worldwide and serves as a cultural ambassador for the United States at the nation’s various embassies abroad.

The group sponsors the Step Afrika International Cultural Festival along with the Soweto Dance Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa. The event attracts dancers from various countries, who are all dedicated to stepping as a creative outlet.

During their annual visit to Johannesburg, group members were instructed by traditional South African dancers. Their inspirations, however, are not drawn from one single source.

“Our goal is to teach people,” Jakari Sherman, the group’s artistic director, said. “We’re inspired to show movements that take you outside the realm of what is typical in traditional African dance.”

Because the troupe emphasizes education, Sherman said pieces are arranged to showcase movements along with an explanation of their meaning.

Sherman, who has been involved with music since he was a child, joined the Washington D.C.-based group in 2005, and along with roles as a performer and percussionist, helps choreograph pieces and makes sure rehearsals run effectively.

Although he began stepping in high school, Sherman said he became more active when he joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. It is in the African-American fraternities and sororities similar to Alpha Phi Alpha that stepping took its current form.

Though Sherman said the practice was first seen in 1906, the percussive movements characteristic of stepping began in the 1950s and ‘60s.

“(Members) would sing songs, and the basic movements, clapping and marching together began as part of the rituals of their pledging process,” Sherman said.

Racial tensions surrounding these formative years are also highlighted in the group’s work.

“(We focus on) the fraternities and sororities that started it, and the context of what was going on when they were formed,” Sherman said.

Sherman said that the group stresses the importance of education with an annual tour of American schools.

“We teach children of so many different backgrounds,” Sherman said. “With younger audiences we explain how fun it can be to go to college and that you can do fun things, but you first have to concentrate on your education. For college students our message is to keep going, to stay committed to school—that you have choices.”

Sherman said the group members use themselves as examples for conveying this message and said he would not be where he is today if he had not received a college education.

The group’s performance will begin Diversity Week, followed by a series of events with similar messages of awareness.

“Step Afrika will hopefully make people appreciate different forms of dance that they wouldn’t (normally see),” Ally Ross, cultural chair for the Linfield Activities Board, said.

The performance is free, and Ross hopes students will be able to learn from the energy of the group.

“It will be a valuable experience,” Ross said. “The troupe has traveled a long way to be here to (demonstrate) their very vibrant form of dance.”

The performance is sponsored by a cultural contribution from ASLC.

For more information about Step Afrika and Diversity Week, contact Ross at [email protected].