News & Events

Step Afrika! brings high-energy stepping to UNC Asheville

October 6, 2010

The first professional company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping, Step Afrika! will bring it’s high-energy percussive dancing to UNC Asheville. Originating from the song-and-dance tradition created by African American college students, stepping uses the body to create sound and rhythm through hand clapping, foot stomping and spoken word. The UNC step team Nue Noiz will open for Step Afrika! Curtain is 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, in UNC Asheville's Lipinsky Auditorium.

Although stepping began with college fraternities, Step Afrika! has taken its exciting dance style to a wide variety of audiences around the world. On top of its annual 50-city tour of American colleges and universities, Step Afrika! performs in South America, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.

The group's signature event is the Step Afrika! International Cultural Festival, held annually in Johannesburg, South Africa. The festival was founded in 1994 to provide an opportunity for a cultural exchange between Americans and South Africans. More than 30,000 people have participated in the festival.

Step Afrika! is known for bringing its art into the classroom and will lead workshops with UNC Asheville students and faculty during its visit here.

Seating for the October 19 performance is general admission and tickets are $20; $5 for students. Tickets are available in advance at UNC Asheville’s Highsmith University Union and online at www.uncatickets.com. For more information, call the box office at 828.232.5000.