Step Afrika!, Nov. 24, 2020
We have a shared responsibility to keep our community safe.
Wear a mask or face covering to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. If you need a test visit coronavirus.dc.gov.
Wearing a mask is one of the ways we can protect ourselves and each other. For
over 25 years, Step Afrika! has stepped on stages around the world and now
we're stepping on our virtual stage and in our community, with a powerful,
relevant message: #MASKITUP . Visit www.stepafrika.org for more information
about the #MaskItUp campaign.
#MaskItUp combines the African American art form of stepping and Go-Go, the official music of Washington, DC to amplify this critical public health message. HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! Watch & share this video!
Filmed in our hometown of Washington, DC the video features our favorite landmarks including Chuck Brown Memorial Park in NE, the Atlas Performing Arts Center in NE, the Big Chair in SE, the Wharf in SW and the legendary home of the #DontMuteDC movement the Metro PCS Store on Florida and 7th Street NW!
Special thanks to Dr. Yolandra Hancock for her counsel and partnership for this campaign. Visit askdryola.com for first-hand information about COVID-19 and ways to keep your family safe.
Filmed and Edited by Ajah Smith. Lyrics written by Jeeda Barrington. Choreography by Jakari Sherman and Jeeda Barrington.
Featuring the Artists of Step Afrika! : Emerald Holman, Conrad R. Kelly II, Misha Michel, Ronnique Murray, Dustin Praylow, Ajah Smith, Valencia Springer, Jordan Spry, Nicolas Stewart, Pelham Warner, Jr., Robert Warnsley, and Jeeda Barrington.
Percussion by Kofi Agyei, Jeeda Barrington, Conrad Kelly, Ajah Smith and Valencia Springer. Costumes by Mfoniso Akpan and Jordan Spry. Sound Engineering by Gustavo Trejo, Sole DidIt and Jeeda Barrington. Produced by C. Brian Williams and Mfoniso Akpan.
Special thanks to Highway 160 Proof (an African-American owned and produced hand sanitizer based in Houston, TX) and Joe’s Movement Emporium (for providing a safe space in which to rehearse and create during these challenging times).
For more information about Step Afrika! visit: www.stepafrika.org.
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision: December 17, 2020
This performance combines spoken word about Covid-19 prevention with performances of African American originated stepping and Washington D.C's Go Go music.
Information about Covid-19 prevention is included in this post along with information about Step Afrika!, stepping, and Go Go music.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, educational, and entertainment purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are associated with Step Afrika! and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 PREVENTION
From https://www.google.com/search?q=covid-19+prevention&oq=&aqs=chrome.0.69i59i450l8.115978798j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
"
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, everyone should:
-Clean your hands often, either with soap and water for 20
seconds or a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
-Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
-Put distance between yourself and other people (at least 6
feet).
-Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others.
-Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the
tissue in the trash.
-Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
daily.
-CDC recommends that people wear masks in public settings and
when around people outside of their household, especially when other social
distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
-Masks may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from
spreading the virus to others."
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INFORMATION ABOUT STEP AFRIKA!
From https://www.stepafrika.org/about/
"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 the Company now
ranks as one of the top ten African-American dance companies in the United
States.
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 headlined President Barack Obama’s Black History Month
Reception 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."
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INFORMATION ABOUT STEPPIN(G)
A general definition of steppin (g)
Steppin (Stepping) is a syncopated, choreographed group performance art that occurs at competitive "step shows" and other competitive and non-competitive venues. The performance art of steppin originated among historically Black (African American) university based Greek lettered fraternities & sororities. Steppin includes chanting, singing with no musical instruments while performing percussive body movements such as stomping, (individual) hand clapping, and "pattin juba (rhythmically slapping and patting your arms, legs, and chest). - written by Azizi Powell
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Here's another definition of stepping:
From http://www.amazon.com/Soulstepping-African-American-Step-Shows/dp/025207534X
"Stepping is a complex performance that melds folk traditions with popular culture and involves synchronized percussive movement, singing, speaking, chanting, and drama."
**
Here's yet another definition of stepping:
From https://www.valdosta.edu/student/student-life/documents/glossary-of-greek-terms.pdf
"Stepping- a form of percussive dance in which the participant's entire body is used as an instrument to produce
complex rhythms and sounds through a mixture of footsteps, spoken word, and hand claps. Though stepping
may be performed by an individual, it is generally performed by groups of three or more, often in arrangements
that resemble military formations"
-snip-
Also, read this definition from that same pdf for the performance movement art form of "strolling" which also originated with historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities:
"Strolling – NPHC Organizational members move together in a line expressing pride for their organization. In
this line, members may express their pride through use of their organization‟s call, sign or historical
information, ritual/custom dances, etc. All of this is done through movements that are unique to a particular
organization.
Please Do: Enjoy watching, as each organization has a unique way and style of strolling.
Please Don’t: Emulate the stroll or cut in between members of the line. That is considered a sign of
disrespect"
-snip-
Also, click the African American fraternity and sorority stepping and strolling tag that is found below for more pancocojams posts that include information and videos on this subject.
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INFORMATION ABOUT WASHINGTON D.C.'S GO GO MUSIC
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go-go
"Go-go is a popular music subgenre associated with funk
originating in the Washington, D.C., area during the mid-60s to late-70s which
remains popular in the Washington metropolitan area as a uniquely regional
music style. It became the official music of the city in 2020.[1] Some early
bands credited with having developed the style are the Young Senators, funk
band Black Heat, and singer-guitarist Chuck Brown.[2] Go-go is primarily a
dance hall music with an emphasis on live audience call and response.
Origins
Although Chuck Brown is known as "the Godfather of
Go-Go", go-go is a musical movement that cannot be traced back to one
single person, as there were so many bands that flourished during the beginning
of this era that they collectively created the sound that is recognized as
go-go of today.
[...]
In the mid-1960s, "go-go" was the word
for a music club in the local African-American community, as in the common
phrase at the time going to a go-go popularized by a million-selling hit of the
same name by the Miracles. Dancers could expect to hear the latest top 40 hits,
as many as twenty at a time, performed by local funk and soul bands, including
Chuck Brown. In 1965, the Young Senators (later known as "the Emperors of
Go-Go") were formed; there soon began a fierce competition with Chuck
Brown and Black Heat on the local club circuit. They later became known for
their hit "Jungle."[8][9][10]"...
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/05/chuck-brown-washington-dcs-go-go-music.html for the 2012 pancocojams post entitled "Chuck Brown & Washington, D.C's Go Go Music". That post presents information about Chuck Brown and Go Go music as well as several Go Go music videos.
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Visitor comments are welcome.
Furthermore, DoggyStyle it is irrelivant to talk about Indy Luv, b/c that has nothing to do w/ them teaching cane steps. And how would you know what a Kappa would teach? You're not one.
However a person wants respect shown is different, and I understand everyone's rational is significant to them.