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Step Afrika! translates the Great Migration into movement

Shari Gasper | Video by Owen Connor

Published January 22, 2026

When Step Afrika! takes the stage on Wednesday, Feb. 4, the theater shifts from a place of observation into a space of shared experience. This performance invites audiences to feel history through rhythm and movement. 

In a recent video conversation filmed ahead of the company’s visit to Overture Center, Artistic Director Mfon Akpan and Founder C. Brian Williams talked with resident dance expert Ja’ Malik, artistic director of Madison Ballet, to share what audiences can expect when Step Afrika! arrives in Madison. Their answer is simple and powerful: this is not a passive experience. Stepping, at its core, is community-based. The more people in the room, the stronger the energy. The fourth wall disappears, and the audience becomes part of the moment. 

That sense of connection sits at the heart of “The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence.” Inspired by Lawrence’s iconic 60-panel painting series, the work explores the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to the North in the early twentieth century. Each section draws from Lawrence’s imagery and color palette, translating history into rhythm you can feel in your chest. 

Founded in 1994 by Williams, Step Afrika! has become the world’s leading authority on stepping, a distinctly American art form created within historically African American fraternities and sororities. Under his leadership, the company has helped elevate stepping onto global stages, touring more than 60 countries while staying grounded in its cultural roots. Performances feature stepping alongside traditional African dance forms and contemporary influences, supported by live musicians who amplify the power of every beat. 

As Akpan explains in the video, audiences don’t leave a Step Afrika! performance untouched. The lights, costuming, sound and physicality transform the auditorium into what she describes as a “live drum.” You don’t just hear the rhythms—you feel them reverberate through the space. Williams adds that this work offers a vital window into American history. To understand stepping is to understand a story created on these shores, shaped by resilience, movement and change. 

Step Afrika! invites audiences to lean in and feel the experience together. When the final beat lands, what remains is the feeling of having been part of something powerful. 

Step Afrika!'s The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence

Wednesday, February 4 at 7pm

Watch as the energy of percussive dance, African traditions and contemporary movement collide. With powerful rhythms, storytelling and audience participation, this celebration of African culture and artistry will leave your heart pounding.

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A Step Afrika! dancer performing on a dark stage. They have dark complexion, a flowing beige dress, and reddish headwear. Their arms and left leg are outstretched as they dance.

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