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November 8, 2013 | Theatre,
CHECK OUT THESE FILMS, BOOKS, AND MUSIC RELATED TO STEP AFRIKA!
FILMS
A troubled 19-year-old street dancer from Los Angeles gets out of a juvenile hall sentence by enrolling in the historically black Truth University located in Atlanta, Georgia. His educational and love interests are sidetracked when two campus fraternities fight for him and his street-style dances moves to win the highly coveted national step show competition. This is a high-energy, young look into the culture of fraternity stepping.
Another look into the college fraternity lifestyle of stepping, Drumline is a fish-out-of-water comedy about a young street drummer (Nick Cannon) who enrolls in a Southern University and learns the power of discipline and commitment as he brings their drumline to victory.
The imaginative Spike Lee brings us an offbeat look into black college life in the eighties, filled with musical stepping sequences that bring life to this contemporary comedy about a not so popular young man trying to pledge a popular fraternity at a historically black college.
Don’t miss out on Step Afrika! playing Friday, Nov. 8 & Saturday, Nov. 9 @8PM. Click here for more info and tickets.
BOOKS
Soulstepping: African American Step Shows (2002)
Fine’s book is the first one to document the history of stepping specifically, with both its ties to African as well as African-American culture, following its transformations through churches, schools, and social groups into a powerful learning and community/identity building tool. Fine uses interviews with people on college campuses as well as steppers and stepping coaches from high schools, community groups, churches, and dance organizations as she traces the widespread growth of stepping.
This cultural history book of black dance delves into the meaning of dance and movement in African-American life, as well as its connections among music and song in African-American culture. Malone explains this in context with contemporary discussions of African-American identity and culture.
Black Dance: From 1916 to Today (1989)
A complete history of black dance forms, this book explores folk, ballet, jazz, tap, Broadway/Hollywood, disco and breakdancing, as well as the vibrant culture of stepping. An ultimate research tool, it includes portraits of hundreds of important black dancers and choreographers. This book is a helpful overview of all black dance culture, and helps give context to the forms Step Afrika! uses on stage.
Don’t miss out on Step Afrika! playing Friday, Nov. 8 & Saturday, Nov. 9 @8PM. Click here for more info and tickets.
MUSIC
Gumboots Musical Cast Recording (2000)
The “gumboots” of the title refers to the boots that South African mineworkers used to wear, which were often adorned with bottle-caps and were used percussively for both communication and as self-expression. The album varies between traditional South African forms as well as South African pop, and stepping composes a large part of the music. This album is a heart-thumping listen into the African origins of stepping.
Homeland – A Collection of South African Music (1990)
A vivacious and unique blending of different aspects of the music scene in South Africa. This album is composed of mostly Shangaan artists, as well as Zulu artists, where Step Afrika! artists found much of their inspiration. This compilation is lively with energetic beats, and is a wonderful introduction to South African music.
Don’t miss out on Step Afrika! playing Friday, Nov. 8 & Saturday, Nov. 9 @8PM. Click here for more info and tickets.
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