Stono: On Demand

About the Show

With beating drums and shouts of “Liberty!,” the Stono Rebellion spurred the Negro Act, which prohibited, among numerous rights, enslaved Africans’ use of drums. But the fight for freedom is never silent. A story of resistance, resilience and reclamation, Stono fills the screen with music and dance to honor the artistry and activism borne out of the body as a percussive instrument. From traditions of the ring shout to contemporary stepping, Step Afrika! reveals the hidden histories and resounding rhythms that transformed America.

Step Afrika! returns to reveal the history of the rhythms that transformed America.

Did You Know?

1. Shot outdoors during the start of the pandemic, Step Afrika!’s cinematic creation puts you in the center of the action as dancers perform stirring spirituals and powerful percussive rhythms that honor the spirit of activism and resistance.
2. Stono takes its name from the Stono Rebellion, the largest insurrection of enslaved Africans in North America, which began in South Carolina on the banks of the Stono River in 1739.
3. Step Afrika! is featured in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture with the world’s first interactive stepping exhibit.

About the Company

Founded in 1994 by C. Brian Williams, Step Afrika! is the first professional dance company dedicated to the tradition of stepping. Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities, traditional African dances and an array of contemporary dance forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience. Step Afrika! promotes stepping as an educational tool for young people, focusing on teamwork, academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding.

Sign Interpretation:
Sign interpretation provided by Hands On

Audio Description:
Audio description provided by VocalEyes