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Step Afrika! will return to the Lenfest Center at Washington and Lee University this month as part of its 30th anniversary tour.
The dance group will perform on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the Keller Theatre.
Step Afrika! is a dance company dedicated to the African-American tradition of “stepping.” Stepping is a rising form of art and an important part of America’s artistic and cultural heritage. In stepping, the body is used as an instrument to create intricate rhythms and sounds through a combination of footsteps, claps, and the unspoken word. The blend of technique, agility, and pure energy makes each performance unique and leaves the audience with their hearts pounding, said a spokeswoman.
After the group’s founding in 1994, it has risen to the top as one of the premier stepping groups in the country. Their dancing styles are rooted in a variety of sources such as historically African American fraternities and sororities, African traditional dance and other forms.
Their scope of impact reaches both globally and locally, as they are Washington, D.C.’s official Cultural Ambassador as of 2009, and each year they tour 50 cities at various colleges and theaters. They aim to expose audiences to the educational benefits of stepping and to spread its awareness in support of cross-cultural engagement throughout the country.
Tickets can be ordered online now at https://my.wlu. edu/lenfest-center/step-afrika.
The box office follows the W&L university calendar and will reopen Thursday, Jan. 11. Hours will be Monday- Friday, 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m., and the box office will be open one hour prior to performance time. The box office phone number is (540) 458-8000.
