Directly From the U.S.
“Step Afrika!” Comes to Bolivia to Share the Art of Stepping
With support from the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia, Washington D.C.-based group “Step Afrika!” visits Bolivia for the first time to share its vibrant form of dance, with loud claps, heavy footsteps, and a burst of energy. The group’s dances, known as stepping, use their bodies as musical instruments to create rhythms and melodies.
Step Afrika! will give free shows that are open to the public shows in Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, and La Paz in early September.
Step Africa! is the first U.S. professional stepping dance company. This art form started in the early 1900s among African American college students, but its popularity has exploded in recent years.
The origins of stepping date back to the rebellion of African slaves who had lost their right to use their percussion instruments and were forced to turn their bodies into musical instruments.
Led by their director, the ten dancers will perform alongside Afro-Bolivian musical groups in:
Santa Cruz:
- Saturday, September 3, 7:00 p.m. at the Centro Boliviano Americano theater, and
- Sunday, September 4, 7:00 p.m. at Manzana Uno.
Cochabamba:
- Wednesday, September 7, 7:30 p.m. at the Simon I. Patiño Center.
La Paz:
- Friday, September 9, 7:00 p.m. at the Bolivian Cinematheque, where the group will talk about the history of stepping.
- Saturday, September 10 at 4:00 p.m. at Plaza San Francisco, where they will end their Bolivia tour.