By: Kerry O'Connell
Stepping is a dance that originated in the gold mines of South Africa in the 1880's. Back then the dance was referred to as gumboot dancing. Slaves were forced to work long days in the mines without being able to communicate with one another, so they began stomping their work boots to create sound. They also used their bodies and the chains that connect them together to create rhythms and tunes. This new musical connection allowed for the workers to create a new form of communication through their rhythms.
Stepping is still performed today as a tribute to the slaves who created the dance. It has been taken up by the U.S military and also by fraternities who perform it as a sign of brotherhood. The dance symbolizes such a strong bond between those who participate in it, and the connection is just as strong between the dancers as it was when it first originated. Stepping is a dance I learned about this semester that I found extremely moving and the history of it is very powerful, which is why I chose to research the topic further.
Stepping is still performed today as a tribute to the slaves who created the dance. It has been taken up by the U.S military and also by fraternities who perform it as a sign of brotherhood. The dance symbolizes such a strong bond between those who participate in it, and the connection is just as strong between the dancers as it was when it first originated. Stepping is a dance I learned about this semester that I found extremely moving and the history of it is very powerful, which is why I chose to research the topic further.
