The cast of Step Afrika! delivered a powerful performance that made the audience feel the highs and lows of black history in America. Their bodies were the instruments as they sang, stomped, clapped, flipped, and danced their way into our hearts.
-By Daniel Holley
Throughout the performance, the themes of freedom and resistance to oppression were displayed in several ways. The performers told stories across time, from the capture of Africans to their rebellions in slavery and segregation, and in each period the characters they represented were relentless in their pursuit of liberty. They hid, ran, and fought against their oppressors, and this story was told through both song and interpretive dance. At one point of the production a singer encouraged others to “lay low” in the wilderness to avoid their potential captors, which was simultaneously visualized by dancers moving timidly across the stage and huddling together.
Although there were instruments played at times near the back of the stage, most of the audio part of the performance was created by the performers’ own bodies. By stomping and clapping in rhythm, their bodies became a way to tell the story through sight and sound. The strong percussion was used to convey a variety of emotions. At the beginning, the characters were cheerful, and their stomping was energetic and joyous. Later on, however, they stomped to show their defiance to the oppression they faced, marching in tandem and demanding freedom.
During the shows entirety, the cast worked to establish a sense of community with the audience. Part of the reason the joys and sorrows the characters encountered were so impactful was due to the involvement the audience had throughout the story. Performers often involved the audience in musical numbers by guiding us in clapping and singing, strengthening our bond to the characters. By clapping along to the music, I was definitely able to relate more to the situations the characters felt, from their celebrations to their struggles.
All in all, the performance given by Step Afrika! was extremely energetic, emotional, and entertaining. It combined sound and dance with percussive body movements to make the audience feel the sorrows and joys of Africans in the U.S. throughout their battle for freedom. The live music performance made the experience even more immersive, and the performers were unafraid to occasionally show off their athleticism with acrobatic dance maneuvers. I hope Step Afrika! returns to Krannert soon to treat us with another story.