Step Afrika! to perform at Houston Center

Step Afrika!, a dance troop performing in the African-American "stomp and roll" tradition, will appear on stage at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18, in the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts at Northwest Missouri State University.

Ticket prices start at $23 for adults and $13 for children and can be purchased weekdays at the Student Services Center on the first floor of the Administration Building. Northwest students will be admitted free with valid ID.

The performance is one of a series of events taking place on campus during February in connection with African-American History Month.

"Stepping" is an intensely rhythmic dance style developed about a century ago by college students belonging to historically black fraternities and sororities. It combines a modern beat with age-old African traditions and story-telling.

The dance form has found growing popularity through talent-based reality TV shows and movies, including the 2007 feature film "Stomp the Yard."

"It’s very high energy," said Angel McAdams Prescott, Northwest's director of campus activities. "It's loud, it's exciting and our students really wanted to bring this show to the campus. Some of them saw a preview of this show when we attended a national conference, and they were amazed by it."

The Maryville show is part of Step Afrika!’s annual 50-city tour of college campuses and other venues. Based in Washington, D.C., the 12-member company has appeared across the United States as well as in South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

Remaining campus shows produced as part of this year's Encore performing arts series will include the Parker Quartet with Shai Wosner on March 11 and Missouri Poet Laureate Bill Trowbridge with musician Bob Walkenhorst, who are scheduled to appear April. 11.