Step Afrika!

Discount pricing is available for this event. Learn more here.

THE STORY OF STEP AFRIKA!

Founded in 1994 by C. Brian Williams, Step Afrika! is the first professional company dedicated to the tradition of stepping. Under Mr. Williams’ leadership, stepping has evolved into one of America’s cultural exports, touring more than 60 countries across the globe and ranking as one of the top 10 African American Dance Companies in the US.

Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities; traditional African dances; and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience. Performances are much more than dance shows; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor and audience participation. The blend of technique, agility, and pure energy makes each performance unique and leaves the audience with their hearts pounding.

Step Afrika! promotes stepping as an educational tool for young people, focusing on teamwork, academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding. The Company reaches tens of thousands of Americans each year through a 50-city tour of colleges and theaters and performs globally as Washington, DC’s one and only Cultural Ambassador.

Step Afrika! has earned Mayor’s Arts Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education, Innovation in the Arts, Excellence in an Artistic Discipline, and was inducted into the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA) Hall of Fame, the first Dance Company to earn this honor. Step Afrika! headlined President Barack Obama’s Black History Month Reception and performed at the first ever Juneteenth Celebration at the White House. The Company is featured prominently at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture with the world’s first stepping interactive exhibit.

Learn more about Step Afrika! at www.stepafrika.org 

Help Kingston be more climate-action friendly. Download your copy of the show playbill before coming to the show.

Join us for more! 

Immediately following the performance, Shanique Peart will host a “Talkback” with the company, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the performance. 

Shanique Peart is a multidisciplinary artist based in Kingston, Ontario, with a background in dance, photography, and storytelling. Beginning as a self-taught dancer in Hip-Hop and Freestyle, she expanded her practice to include Dancehall, Afro Fusion, Modern, and Urban Contemporary styles. Her work explores the intersections of movement, identity, and environment, using vibrant compositions to foster connection and evoke emotion.

Rooted in collaboration and inspired by community, Shanique blends artistic disciplines to craft stories that reflect shared experiences and collective memory. Beyond performance, she is actively involved in creative projects across theatre, education, and arts administration."

Shanique was a 2024 Kingston Grand Theatre Local Artist-in-Residence.