To conclude Ball State's Black History Month celebration, an internationally renowned dance group will give a presentation today that will highlight the black fraternity and sorority art form of stepping and its link to traditional South African dances.
Step Afrika! USA, a percussive dance ensemble based in Washington, D.C., will perform at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.
Founded in December 1996, SAUSA is a non-profit organization supported by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. The company takes annual sojourns to the Step Afrika! International Cultural Festival in Soweto, South Africa and has performed across North America and Europe.
SAUSA's performance Thursday will be sponsored by Ball State's Multicultural Center, University Programming Board, Black Student Association Campus Activity Fund Board and Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
The group will present a variety of dance styles including tap, hip-hop and free-style. The members will also discuss the origins of stepping, which originated in the Zulu and Gumboot African tribes to commemorate marriage and war, said Terry Frazier, assistant director of student organizations and activities.
Frazier said because stepping has become popular in many historically black fraternities and sororities throughout the country, bringing SAUSA to Ball State was beneficial.
"Most members of (SAUSA) have actually been part of a historically black fraternity or sorority, and that will help us as we continue to discuss African-American roots in Greek life (on campus)," Frazier said.
Frazier said he is looking forward to the presentation and encourages all members of the Ball State and Muncie communities to attend.
Because this is the first time SAUSA has come to Ball State, it will be a new experience for everybody, he said.
"It will be a highly energetic show," said Frazier. "People need to come prepared to be excited."
He said in addition to Thursday's SAUSA performance, Ball State's annual Essence Caf+â-¬ will be held Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Center Tally.
Sponsored by the Black Student Association, the caf+â-¬ is free to the public and will allow students and local residents to gather for musical performances and poetry readings, Frazier said.
During the poetry readings, participants may read both professional poetry and their personal work, he said. Though several students are already lined up to perform, the caf+â-¬ will provide an open mic for all attendees. Frazier said even a few local, regional and statewide professional poets and poet agents will be in the audience.
Musical performances during the Essence Caf+â-¬ will range from several students playing the saxophone and the piano to other students giving speeches, singing and performing interpretive dances, Frazier said.
LaNette Sims, vice president of the Black Student Association, said she is looking forward to both the SAUSA performance and the Essence Caf+â-¬ and hopes the events will be enriching for all who attend.
"It's a good way for everyone to simply come out and enjoy themselves, and they will gain a better acceptance of other people," Sims said.
Frazier said the presentations will especially benefit students by giving them a broader view of the world. He said he is glad Black History Month will end with interesting fine arts events that people of all races can relate to.
"Poetry and dancing are universal languages," Frazier said. "It will allow people to open their minds to different things and will give everyone insight on African American culture. I hope this will help people to feel more welcome to other cultural events held on campus in the future."
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