stepping bursts into world of high fashion
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

LeeAnet Noble collaborated with Rick Owens

Stepping bursts into world of high fashion

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice Stepping bursts into world of high fashion

US artists Khadijah Nimrod (front) and Maya Macon rehearse a step dance routine
Washington - Arab Today

Feet and hands pounding in a rhythmic whirl -- stepping traces its roots deep within African American history and over the past year has taken the fashion world by storm.
One of the stars of step, LeeAnet Noble, collaborated with US designer Rick Owens in last September's Paris Fashion Week, and this week, she and her dancers are performing at a fashion and dance exhibit during New York's shows.
In the Washington studio where she rehearses with her company, the 30-year-old sometimes plays the drums. But just as often, there's no music at all: the rhythms of the hands and feet the only accompaniment necessary.
Stepping was born in the United States at the start of the 20th century as a sort of rally cry for African American fraternities to "express their unity, to express the spirit of their organizations," said Virginia Tech professor Elizabeth Fine, who has written a book on the dance.
Its roots, however, reach back further, to the slave era, when white owners forbid slaves to use drums.
"When the drums were taken away, it allowed you to come with creative ways to bring those rhythms back into your life. And it came to clapping and stepping and moving your feet," said Noble.
Today, said Fine, step dancing is "a way to celebrate black identity in America and black community."
The high-octane dance form -- with its quick tempo and sharp movements -- is not explicitly political.
Black "fraternities and sororities were hugely involved in the civil rights movements," said C. Brian Williams, founder of the Step Afrika dance company.
"Stepping, however, was not at the center," he said.
- 'All together' -
At rehearsal, the girls go through their moves as Lauretta Malloy, Noble's mother and co-choreographer, reminds them to stay "all together."
"There was a movement through the movement. It stood for empowerment and showing dignity and pride," said Noble, who learned to dance from family in Cleveland, and whose grandparents were fraternity members.
Stepping first became known beyond college campuses through the 1988 Spike Lee film "School Daze," which took inspiration from Lee's own student days.
Over the last year, the dance has found a new stage: in the world of high fashion.
During Owens' 2013 show in Paris, 40 dancers of all sizes and skin tones sported the designer's custom leather creations.
Eyes serious, jaws locked, the women danced on the catwalk with a near military-style cadence -- an allusion to many black students who serve in the US army.
The unorthodox show was received with raves, said Noble. "They were crying," she said of the audience, adding she has since received a slew of requests.
Noble will collaborate next with stylist Joshua Liebman, and, on Friday, she and a crew of her dancers will perform at the opening of a "Dance and Fashion" exhibit at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology.
Last year's appearance at Owens' show also struck a chord, because it came amid a firestorm over lack of diversity in the fashion world sparked by black model Bethann Hardson's list of designers who fail to hire women of color to showcase their work.
"It helps to change what’s happening on the runway," Noble said.
Source: AFP

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

stepping bursts into world of high fashion stepping bursts into world of high fashion

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

stepping bursts into world of high fashion stepping bursts into world of high fashion

 



GMT 07:41 2011 Sunday ,14 August

Manchester United boss backs new generation

GMT 10:49 2013 Friday ,20 September

Apple buyers rue high price of new low cost iPhone

GMT 00:13 2017 Friday ,16 June

'Banker takes bribe to buy 'unwanted' shares'

GMT 21:47 2017 Saturday ,06 May

Emir Sends Cable of Condolences

GMT 13:26 2017 Tuesday ,24 October

SAGITTARIUS (November23rd-December21st)

GMT 22:39 2017 Monday ,20 November

NIHR welcomes UNICEF partnership

GMT 07:54 2017 Monday ,30 October

Young Muslims to drive $300 billion

GMT 06:15 2017 Saturday ,23 December

Tehran judiciary nixes hopes of swift release

GMT 14:57 2017 Wednesday ,22 November

Israel probes president's photo in Palestinian scarf

GMT 08:40 2017 Thursday ,02 March

Oculus looks to spur VR spread

GMT 23:31 2017 Saturday ,20 May

Syrian mother panic over son

GMT 12:29 2017 Wednesday ,08 March

Itsu launches into frozen food market
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice