Step Afrika!, a renowned company dedicated to preserving and celebrating the African American tradition of stepping, made history on February 15 by setting a Guinness World Record for the largest stepping dance. The record-breaking event took place at the National Building Museum in Northwest Washington, D.C., with 268 steppers joining together for this monumental achievement.
For more than 30 years, Step Afrika! has worked to uplift the cultural legacy of stepping, an art form with deep roots in African American history. The Guinness World Record marks another significant milestone for the company, which continues to inspire and bring together people from diverse backgrounds to honor this unique form of dance.
“The event was historic,” said Janice Ferebee, one of the many participants who joined Step Afrika! to make this groundbreaking moment a reality. “The atmosphere was electrifying, fun, and powerful. It was wonderful to see the multicultural gathering— although predominantly African American— come together to make history.”
Ferebee, a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. for over 45 years, also shared her excitement about being part of the event. As a two-time cancer survivor and an advocate for maintaining an active lifestyle, she embraced the opportunity to participate in the challenge, noting that she may have been the oldest stepper present at the event.
“As a 69-year-old fit and fabulous, two-time fallopian tube cancer survivor, blessed with over three decades in long-term recovery, I’m dedicated to aging with grace, lust for life, and style,” Ferebee explained. “Learning the step routines was a challenge, but once I received the tutorial, I felt confident I could pull it off.”
The participants, who included step teams from across the country, church ministries, Divine Nine steppers, parents, children, and many others, came together to break the previous record of 250 steppers. Step Afrika! company members led the practice sessions, ensuring everyone was in sync before attempting the record-breaking routine. An official Guinness World Records adjudicator was on hand to count all the participants and verify the achievement.
Step Afrika! Artistic Director C. Brian Williams, who founded the company in 1994, emphasized the importance of preserving stepping as a uniquely American art form and sharing its cultural significance. As the company celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024, Williams reflected on the growth of Step Afrika! and the impact it has had on both the African American community and the wider world.
This record-setting event, held during Black History Month, was not just a moment to break a world record but also a celebration of stepping’s historic and cultural significance. Williams shared his vision for Step Afrika!, which has been dedicated to promoting African American history and culture in innovative ways. “The motivation was to really preserve and promote stepping as a uniquely American art form,” he said. “And now we’ve preserved and documented [stepping], which is important because we had to do it ourselves. And then the rest of the world kind of caught up.”
The Guinness World Record for the “largest stepping dance” is just one example of the ways in which Step Afrika! continues to break barriers, using the power of dance to unite people across cultures and backgrounds. Ferebee emphasized how stepping, like music, becomes a universal language that transcends race and fosters cross-cultural connections.
“Although Step Afrika! and this event are exceptional representations of Black brilliance, Black excellence, and Black pride, this internationally renowned performance group transcends Blackness and embraces humanity,” she said. “This event is one way of promoting cross-cultural connection and unity, which is needed in today’s political and social climate.”
Step Afrika! has once again demonstrated its ability to inspire joy, promote cultural pride, and bring people together through the art of stepping.
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