Of all the fascinating cultural pageantry that Athens has to offer, authentic African dance is as rare in this town as a snow storm.

Thankfully, the professional dancers of the Atlanta company Soweto Street Beat Dance Theatre Inc. are coming to town to shake things up a bit with a traditional South African drum and dance performance.

“The program that we’re doing is called ‘Zulu Kingdom,’” said Amy Anderson, assistant director of the University’s African American Cultural Center. “It’s a 60 minute show. [The Performers] give history behind all the dances and get people involved as well. It will be a real opportunity for people to learn about some of the original dances that go on in South Africa.”

Anderson said spectators of the festival will have the opportunity to learn the history of the Zulu nation and other African ethnic groups.

“This is an opportunity for students to learn about South African culture. [The program] talks about how African Americans have come to America and struggled for citizenship,” Anderson said. “It also talks about the different ways in which African Americans have embedded themselves in American culture and still very much express themselves.”

Peter Ngcobo, founder and CEO of Soweto Street Beat, is a South African native with more than 30 years of entertainment experience.

“Soweto Street Beat started in Soweto, South Africa,” Ngcobo said. “We incorporate our culture to make our style of dance unique.”

Ngcobo emphasized the importance of distinguishing between the different ethnic groups and cultures in his country.

“Africa is so huge – there are over 3,000 ethnic groups,” he said. “But Zulu is the biggest ethnic group.”

Peter’s wife, Artistic Director and Choreographer Isabelle Ngcobo, is a professionally trained ballerina.

“I’m the creator of all the dances,” she said. “The message behind all of this is that African dance is an art form. There’s a technique to it, but you don’t have to be African to do it.”

She wants University students to understand the history and culture of Africa and to promote respect between different groups of people.

“It’s good to understand history before moving forward, and music is always a good place to start,” she said. “My message is plain and simple: it’s very important for Africans to connect with our roots and teach our children. The dances that we do are not just dances, they tell stories about our country, our culture, and our people.”