UMSI, the MLibrary, and other academic units on campus are sponsoring Step Afrika! in conjunction with the MLK Symposium.

Step Afrika! is the first professional company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping. In stepping, the body is used as an instrument to create intricate rhythms and sounds through a combination of footsteps, claps and spoken word.

The tradition grew out of the song and dance rituals practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities in the early 1900s. Stepping comes from a long and rich tradition in African-based communities that use movement, words and sounds to communicate allegiance to a group. The company is critically acclaimed for its efforts to promote an understanding of and appreciation for stepping and the dance tradition's use as an educational tool for young people worldwide.

This event is free and open to the public. You can read more about the program and listen to an NPR interview with the founder of Step Afrika!