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Step Afrika!
Step Afrika! is back. So shouted members of the much-beloved local dance company Wednesday night, when Step Afrika! opened its annual homestand at Atlas Performing Arts Center.
The ensemble just wrapped up a busy touring season that included a three-day run at New York's Town Hall, last week's performance at an international dance festival in Montreal, and dozens of "Stepping Into Schools" performances around the country. Then there was a little movie called "How She Move," which showcased stepping as a North American art form -- a cousin of tap, influenced by African dance.
For the record, Step Afrika! is unaffiliated with the film. Jakari Sherman, the company's artistic director, isn't complaining about the cinematic exposure, but he does say stepping is better viewed onstage rather than on-screen. He's right. This year's Step Afrika! Atlas show (which continues through Sunday) includes three new works, some staples and few sketches from school assemblies. It's not a cohesive program, but it does have variety, and it's as dynamic as ever.
A Step Afrika! performance is as much a celebration of athleticism as cultural heritage. These are dancers of many talents. When not using their hands to clap or slap, several members double as African drummers. Save a spot on the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team for Jason Nious, a visiting former company member, now performing in the Las Vegas show "Stomp Out Loud," who can do splits, handstands and no-hand cartwheels. The four women are flexible, propulsive dancers with great leg extensions, compliments any company would welcome.
Programmatically, the show peaked with "Ndlamo," a contemporary Zulu dance performed in tribal costumes. The entire program is family friendly, but numbers aimed at children are the weakest. Adults may not find the comedic dance set in an African mine particularly funny. (That Leonardo DiCaprio movie "Blood Diamond" -- not a comedy.) Still, it's obvious that these dancers go over well in schools. "Go West," a new work that attempts to fuse stepping with West African dance, got a little long and loud. But all three premieres showed the vitality of Step Afrika!, a company sure to be back next year.
-- Rebecca J. Ritzel
