[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16430-16431]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            CELEBRATING STEP AFRIKA! ON ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 2, 2014

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in celebrating Step Afrika! on its 20th 
anniversary, which will be celebrated on December 4, 2014.
  Founded two decades ago, Step Afrika! was originally created as a 
cultural exchange program with the Soweto Dance Theatre of 
Johannesburg, South Africa, and has grown to

[[Page 16431]]

become an internationally recognized dance company.
  Stepping is a uniquely American art form that originated on the 
campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Step Afrika! 
is the first professional company dedicated to the art of stepping. 
Step Afrika! promotes an appreciation for stepping through performances 
and arts education programs in the District of Columbia, across the 
rest of the United States and around the world.
  Step Afrika! specializes in the use of stepping as an educational 
tool for young students. Step Afrika! brings stepping and its 
associated values of teamwork, commitment and discipline to students in 
classrooms, non-traditional dance venues and performing arts venues. 
Step Afrika! introduced stepping to the Kennedy Center's Teaching 
Artist program in 1998, and served as the first step group for the 
Washington Performing Arts' Concerts in Schools program. In 2005, Step 
Afrika! earned its first DC Mayor's Arts Award for Outstanding 
Contribution to Education, in acknowledgement for its expanding role in 
arts education. Step Afrika! brings stepping to more than 20,000 
students each year.
  Step Afrika! is also globally renowned. The organization serves as an 
official Cultural Ambassador for the U.S. State Department. It has 
represented the United States and countries around the world including 
South Sudan. Step Afrika! has also provided moral, welfare, and 
recreation programs for service members overseas in Bahrain and 
Djibouti.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in 
congratulating Step Afrika!, its Founder and Executive Director, C. 
Brian Williams, and the Chair of Step Afrika!'s Board of Directors, 
Jacqueline N. Francis, M.D. on 20 years of service to the District of 
Columbia and the rest of the United States.

                          ____________________