Slideshow: Step Afrika! educates and entertains with dance performance

March 2, 2022
Updated: March 3, 2022 - 9:41 PM
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Arts & Entertainment, Campus, Multimedia

Kamala Hargrove performs with Step Afrika! on Feb. 25, 2022 at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Step Afrika! is the first professional dance company in the world dedicated to the technique of stepping. Photo by Amber Esparza

Kamala Hargrove and Kayshon Hawkins celebrate traditional African dance during Step Afrika! on Feb. 25, 2022. Step Afrika! incorporates storytelling, humor and audience participation to create a moving performance. Photo by Amber Esparza

Step Afrika! performers watch fellow dancer Joseph Vasquez as he performs a stepping routine. Stepping originated from the fraternities and sororities of historically black colleges and universities around the United States. Photo by Amber Esparza

Ericka Still (left) and Ariel Dykes (right) during a performance of Step Afrika's gumboot dancing segment. Gumboot dancing originated in South Africa as a way for mine workers to communicate with each other without getting in trouble. Photo by Amber Esparza

Step Afrika! performers in a lineup during their gumboot dancing segment. Gumboot dancing has evolved into the modern stepping. Photo by Amber Esparza

Step Afrika! returned to Texas A&M University-San Antonio to celebrate the art of stepping in honor of Black Heritage Month on Feb. 25, 2022.

The event was held in the auditorium and was sponsored by The Office of Student Involvement, The University Heritage Committee, The Black Student Union and The President’s Commission on Equity and Inclusive Excellence.

Stepping originates from the fraternities and sororities of historically black colleges and universities around the United States. It is a percussive art style that converts the human body into an instrument through dance, stomps and claps.

Step Afrika! incorporates storytelling, humor and audience participation to create an educational and entertaining performance.

About the Author

Amber Esparza

Arts, Culture & Entertainment Editor

Amber Esparza is a senior communications major and Managing Editor for The Mesquite at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Amber joined The Mesquite in spring 2021 as a Photo and Multimedia Editor after transferring from the Alamo Colleges with an associate’s degree in communication. Amber has extensive experience in photography, journalism and radio, television and film. In her spare time, Amber enjoys thrift shopping, doing deep dives on the music she’s listening to and watching movies, TV and YouTube. Amber hopes to build a career that can incorporate all of her passions for media and entertainment.