Opening Nights - Step Afrika!

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

STEP AFRIKA!

SPRING 2022–23

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from the director

on behalf of Opening Nights, we are thrilled to share the second half of our 25th Anniversary Season with you! We’ve saved the best for last this spring with so many incredible performances coming your way. In February, we kick off the vibrant lineup with:

The Other Mozart by Sylvia Milo at Turner Auditorium on February 4. This captivating one-woman show tells the story of Mozart’s forgotten sister, Nannerl, a piano virtuoso in her own right. Television, stage and film star Katharine McPhee will perform live at the home of the FSU President on February 6.

A month-long celebration of Black History Month kicks off with Step Afrika! on February 7 and is sure to delight all ages with an exciting blend of percussive dance styles that integrate songs, storytelling and humor. Pulitzer Prize winning author, Colson Whitehead will speak on February 9 about his writings and engage the audience with insightful discussion.

The Queens of Soul, Morgan James and Erica Gabriel take center stage with our very own Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra on February 11 for a celebration of the music of Motown, R&B and soul; celebrate Valentine’s Day with a breathtaking performance by contemporary dance company MOMIX and their visually stunning repertoire entitled Alice, inspired by Alice in Wonderland; and Ethiopian jazz singer, Meklit, will perform on February 28.

French-based Zodiac Trio will perform Benny Rides Again, a celebration of the songs of Benny Goodman on March 3; country and folk music legend Emmylou Harris takes the Ruby Diamond stage on March 4 for an unforgettable evening of the music that has thrived for more than 50 years; theatre fans get ready for New York Gilbert & Sullivan Player’s The Mikado on March 11 for a matinee performance; and families won’t want to miss

Legendary late-night comedian and television host Jay Leno will pack Ruby Diamond for a memorable evening of laughs on March 29; Opening Nights continues its collaboration with the Chain of Parks Arts Festival with digital media artist John Ensor Parker on April 13; FSU’s PRISM is back with its traditional spring performance on April 16; and the season concludes with Piano Battle, a rollicking good time, on April 25.

Sponsorships and memberships make each season possible, and we are very grateful to the many people who have generously supported us this season. As we continue to celebrate the Opening Nights 25-year legacy into the next season, we invite you to renew or become a member or a sponsor of our 2023–24 Season. From town to gown, Opening Nights is a vital university and community performing arts program with a mission worthy of supporting and celebrating! These performances create a thriving cultural life in our community and create priceless educational experiences on campus and throughout the community. Ask any Opening Nights associate about these philanthropic opportunities. We hope you join us!

Thank you again for your support of the Opening Nights 25th Anniversary Season at Florida State University. Please enjoy these outstanding performances!

Jennifer Wright Director, Opening Nights at Florida State University

The Jungle Book performed live by the Panto Company on March 23.

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Carlos Rodriguez, College of Business Shanquell Dixon, College of Medicine

Florida State University

Richard McCullough President

Opening Nights Staff

Jennifer Wright Director

Lori Elliott Development Director

Grace Atkins Program & Operations Manager

Brad Lister Business & Patron Services Manager

Calla MacNamara Education & Engagement Manager

Nick DiChiara Patron Services Coordinator

Noelle Enright Marketing Associate

Amanda Cole Graphic Designer University Communications, Creative Services

Rodney Johnson Assistant Director of Creative Services University Communications, Creative Services

Opening Nights Development Council

Eric Friall, Chair

Gus Corbella, Immediate-Past Chair

Susan Stratton, Secretary

Kathleen Daly

Brooke Hallock

John Marks

David Mica, Jr.

Heather Mitchell

Nan Nagy

Tom Nelson

Ron Sachs

Florida State University

Office of the President

College of Fine Arts

College of Motion Picture Arts College of Music

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FSU Panama City

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upcoming performances

february

7 Step Afrika! dance, world music

Sponsored by The Jane & John Marks Foundation

9 Colson Whitehead author, speaker

Sponsored by Bernadette & Roger Luca

11 Queens of Soul with Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra

tribute, orchestral, r&b

14 MOMIX dance

Sponsored by Taylor Blackburn Family Fund

28 Meklit jazz, world music, vocal

Sponsored by FSU License Plate

march

3 Zodiac Trio instrumental, jazz

4 Emmylou Harris country, Americana

Sponsored by Lee Hinkle, Ken Kato & Nan Nagy

11 New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players: The Mikado

opera, comedy, musical theatre

Sponsored by Taylor Blackburn Family Fund

23 The Jungle Book family, theatre

Sponsored by Centennial Bank & Kessler Construction

29 Jay Leno comedy

Sponsored by Peter Boulware Toyota

Cover photo: Step Afrika by Sekou Luke

Stay connected to Tallahassee’s latest activities and attractions. Read Tallahassee Magazine in print and online, plus like and follow on social media for the latest events and happenings. @tallahasseemag | tallahasseemagazine. com

Stay connected to Tallahassee’s latest activities and attractions. Read Tallahassee Magazine in print and online, plus like and follow on social media for the latest events and happenings. @tallahasseemag | tallahasseemagazine. com

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WHERE GREAT SERVICE IS ALWAYS THE STAR OF THE SHOW

Step Afrika!

Continued from pg. 19

Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities; traditional West and Southern African dances; and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience. Performances are much more than dance shows; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor and audience participation. The blend of technique, agility, and pure energy makes each performance unique and leaves the audience with their hearts pounding.

Step Afrika! promotes stepping as an educational tool for young people, focusing on teamwork, academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding. The Company reaches tens of thousands of Americans each year through a 50-city tour of colleges and theatres and performs globally as Washington, DC’s one and only Cultural Ambassador. Step Afrika! has earned Mayor’s Arts Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education (2005); Innovation in the Arts (2008); and Excellence in an Artistic

Discipline (2012); and performed at the White House for President Barack Obama and the First Lady.

Step Afrika! is featured prominently at the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African-American History & Culture with the world’s first stepping interactive exhibit. In November 2017, Step Afrika! made its OffBroadway debut with the critically-acclaimed production, The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence. The show successfully ran for three weeks at the New Victory Theatre in New York City

FUN FACTS ABOUT STEP AFRIKA!

Founded in 1994, as an exchange program with the Soweto Dance Theatre of Johannesburg, Step Afrika! is the first professional Dance Company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping.

Step Afrika! is one of the top 5 African American dance companies in the United States, the largest African American led arts organization in Washington, DC and Washington, DC’s only cultural ambassador.

There are 14 full-time dancers—all college

graduates—many of whom attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and are members of Historically Black Greek Fraternities and Sororities.

Step Afrika! engages 30,000 college students across the nation, teaches teamwork and discipline to hundreds of kids as part of the Summer Steps with Step Afrika! summer camp and expands culture-based arts education for more than 20,000 Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia school students each year.

Primary arts education activities include in-school performances for K-12 students; reading, exercise, and creative movement programs for pre-school students; and seven-week college preparatory programs for middle and high school students;

In 2018 and 2019, Step Afrika! traveled internationally to promote cultural dialogue and exchange in Jordan (2018), Ghana (2018). Croatia (2019), Ukraine (2019), Zambia (2019), Angola (2019), and South Africa (2019).

In 2020, Step Afrika! premiered its new feature-length work, Drumfolk

To learn more, visit stepafrika.org.

“[Stepping] really is a wonderful story in terms of African Americans coming together for a larger purpose...and then creating unique ways to share that love with a larger community.”

– C. Brian Williams, Founder

CREATIVE TEAM BIOS

C. BRIAN WILLIAMS , Founder and Executive Director of Step Afrika!, is a native of Houston, Texas and graduate of Howard University. He is a National Heritage Fellow as designated by the National Endowment of the Arts, the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. Brian first learned to step as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,Inc.—Beta Chapter, in the Spring of 1989. While living in Southern Africa, he began to research the percussive dance tradition of stepping, exploring the many sides of this exciting, yet under-recognized American art form and founded Step Afrika! in 1994.Williams has performed, lectured and taught in Europe, Central and South America,Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Caribbean and throughout the United States. He is the founder of the monumental Step Afrika! International Cultural Festival in Johannesburg,South Africa. Through Williams’ leadership, stepping has evolved into one of America’s newest cultural exports and inspired the designation of Step Afrika! as Washington, D.C.’s official “Cultural Ambassador.” Williams has been

cited as a “civic/community visionary” by NV Magazine, a “nation builder” by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators and a “minority business leader” by the Washington Business Journal. He is the recipient of numerous Artist Fellowships; the Distinguished Arts Award from the Coalition for African-Americans in the Performing Arts; the Pola Nirenska Award for Contemporary Achievement in Dance. He is also featured in Soul Stepping, the first book to document the history of stepping. He also earned the 2008 Mayor’s Art Award for Innovation in the Arts and has led the company to multiple Metro DC Dance Awards for “Outstanding New Work,”“Excellence in Stage Design/ Multimedia” and “Outstanding Group Performance.” In 2018, Williams received the Mayor’s Arts Award for Visionary Leadership from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

MFONISO AKPAN has trained extensively in tap, ballet, jazz, modern, African dance and step. While attending the State University of New York at Stony Brook, she majored in biochemistry and cultivated her stepping skills as a member of Delta Sigma Theta

Sorority, Inc. Mfon began her training at the Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center and has performed at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, the Apollo Theater, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Lincoln Center. Mfon toured with the off-Broadway show Hoofin’ 2 Hittin, where she was a featured stepper and dancer.

NIOMI COLLARD (Lighting Designer/ Production Manager) is a Washington DC and Tampa, Florida-based lighting and projections designer. Niomi has designed lights and video on stage with Synetic Theater Company, The Source Festival, GALA Hispanic Theater, and was nominated for a DC Regional Award for Outstanding Production in a Play for KLYTMNESTRA by Dane Figueroa Edidi at Theater Alliance (2020). Niomi has been behind the camera as lighting director for PBS NewsHour, and designed lighting throughout the Smithsonian’s many museums. She has assisted designs at The Studio Theatre and Rorschach Theatre Company. Niomi helps lead Tech Ops for DragonCon in Atlanta, GA every Labor Day weekend, and is a graduate of the American University in Washington, D.C. Niomi joined Step Afrika! in 2017 and her favorite color is R318 Mayan Sun.

COMPANY BIOS

ARIEL DYKES is a native of Gainesville, Florida. She received an Associate of Arts Degree in Musical Theatre from Santa

C. Brian Williams

Fe College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Florida. She has trained in traditional and post-modern dance, jazz, voice, and acting, and has worked with such artists as Ailey Dancers’ Nathaniel Hunt and Samantha Barriento, Tony Award winner Scott Coulter, and Galen Hooks. She was introduced to stepping and strolling as a member of the Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she choreographed step routines for the chapter and UF’s National Panhellenic Council. This is her first season with the Company.

school when she joined the Code Red Step team and furthered her experience in college as a member of the Rampage Step Team.

A&M University, he became a member of the Marching 100 and the Strikers. After college, Conrad became a soloist for The Rolle Project in Las Vegas as well as a dance instructor with Studio 305, where he regularly taught classes in hip-hop, contemporary, and jazz dance. He has won numerous awards as a choreographer and dancer. Conrad is a twotime recipient of the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities’ prestigious Arts and Humanities Fellowship Program. He plans to use his extensive performing and teaching experiences to launch a mentoring program for young male dancers.

KAMALA HARGROVE was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, and started dancing at the age of four. She trained professionally in ballet, Horton, Graham, West African, jazz, and hip hop at the Alvin Ailey School and Dance Theater of Harlem until she was 18. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, Theater, and Dance with a concentration in Dance and Choreography at Trinity College. Since graduating from Trinity College, Kamala has appeared in various music videos and live performances. She has performed with artists including Estelle, Mr. Vegas, Wizkid, and French Montana. She has also worked as a Teaching Artist in New York City, teaching elementary, middle, and high school students. This is Kamala’s first season with the Company.

AKIEVIA HICKMAN is a native of Tallahassee, Florida and holds an MBA from Florida A&M University. She is a member of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In addition to being trained in hip-hop and jazz, Akievia has studied modern and contemporary dance under the direction of Shepiro Hardemon as a member of Mahogany Dance Theatre. Akievia was introduced to stepping in high

JABARI JONES is a Detroit, Michigan native who began dancing at the age of 8, inspired by recording artist Usher’s “You Don’t Have to Call” music video. A self-taught dancer, his first ever taste of performing was dancing in the 79th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Jabari has performed with Aloe Blacc, Missy Elliot, Lil Baby, City Girls, 2 Chainz, Rick Ross, and Lil Yachty and choreographed projects for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. In addition to his extraordinary dance credits, Jabari is also an actor, appearing in productions of College Boyfriends, Nick Cannon’s WildNOut, BET’s American Soul, and Sophia Nahli Allison’s Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground. Jabari studied English at Morehouse College and he is a proud member of The Chi Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc where he served as Stroll Master.

CONRAD R. KELLY II is a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he attended Dillard High School of the Visual and Performing Arts. While attending Florida

ISAIAH O’CONNOR is a native of Miami, Florida. He received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. In college, Isaiah joined the Strikers Dance Troupe under the direction of Shepiro Hardemon and studied hip-hop, modern, and urban soul. He aspires to use his talents to not only perform on stages across the world, but to give back to those who helped him along the way. This is Isaiah’s first season with Step Afrika!.

VALENCIA ODEYKA EMONNI SPRINGER is a native of Brooklyn, New York. She holds

a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and served as the first “Stand Queen” (captain) with the Ambassadors of Sound Marching band at Virginia Union University. She studied ballet, jazz, African, hip-hop, and contemporary dance at Restoration Youth Arts Academy. Valencia has performed with Forces of Nature, Dance Africa (Brooklyn), and as part of a live installation entitled A Primordial Place. She also worked as a social studies and science teacher, dance teacher/ coach, guest choreographer for local New York/Virginia majorette teams, and as a model for New York and Richmond, Virginia, fashion weeks. Valencia is a proud member of the Nu Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and the Eta Psi Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary band sorority.

Management from Florida A&M University. Throughout college, she studied under the direction of Shepiro Hardemon as a member and Co-Assistant Artistic Director of Mahogany Dance Theatre. This is Ericka’s first season with the Company.

University with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. Robert learned to step and stroll as a member of the Eta Tau chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. In addition to stepping, he practices hip-hop and Chicago-style footworking.

ERICKA STILL is a native of St. Petersburg, Florida. She began her training at SADA under the direction of Paulette W. Johnson, where she studied tap, ballet, jazz, African, and contemporary dance. Ericka discovered the art form of stepping in middle school as a part of the AKAdemy Exquisite Gems program. Ericka received a Bachelor of Arts in Health Science: Pre-Occupational Therapy and she minored in Rehabilitation

PELHAM WARNER is a native of The Bronx, New York and has attended Dutchess Community College. A self-taught dancer of Dancehall and student of Afro Street styles, his true passion can be found in the rhythm and beats of his percussive stepping style. As a teenager, Pelham was a member of The Players Club Steppers. He then found his home stepping with The Order of the Feather Fraternity, where he served as the team’s Step Master and captain for five years. Pelham is an accomplished teaching artist, teaching step to students in the greater New York City area for several years. He recently performed in the a capella musical The Movement by Kathy D. Harrison at The National Black Theater Festival. He is blessed to have the opportunity to continue his passion for stepping, performing, and teaching during his fourth season with Step Afrika!.

ROBERT WARNSLEY is a native of Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Illinois State

JEREL L. WILLIAMS is a native of Jacksonville, Florida and he has been stepping for more than 20 years. Dance and theater became a part of his life when he joined the Florida A&M University Strikers in 2007, where he trained to be a professional performer. Jerel studied Education at Tallahassee Community College. He served many years traveling to different communities as a student advocate, mentor, stepping, and dance instructor; leading young people through love, unity, and opportunity to reach their full potential. Jerel joined Step Afrika! in September 2016.

Photo Credits For Headshots

Headshots of the Company Artists by Drew Xeron. Headshot of Mfoniso Akpan by Jordan Spry.

I regard the

as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.

- - Thornton Wilder

great spring shows still to come

2/9 Colson Whitehead

2/11 Queens of Soul with Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra

2/14 MOMIX

2/28 Meklit

3/3 Zodiac Trio

3/4 Emmylou Harris

3/11 New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players: The Mikado

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3/23 The Jungle Book

3/29 Jay Leno

4/13 John Ensor Parker: Chain of Parks Art Festival Presenting Artist 4/16 PRISM

4/25 Piano Battle

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