Stepping is a recombinant form of African dance, stripped of some elements of ritual and filtered through the lens of American culture and the immigrant experience. Through a series of synchronized movements, bodies become instruments in pursuit of what Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti liked to call “the endless groove.” Step Afrika!’s take on the form is unquestionably noisy and funky, while Coyaba Dance Theater presents dancing and drumming in a more traditional West African context. With its midtempo approach to modern and interpretive dance and experiments in narrative, Washington Reflections Dance Company may seem like the odd company out, but Fabian Barnes’ ensemble can crank up the intensity, too. This three-way showcase, “Winter Heat,” affords an opportunity to sample some of D.C.’s finest troupes mixing it up on the same stage—as well as a practical education in African dance from its roots to its African-American saplings. The performances begin at 3 & 8 p.m. at Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harman Center for the Arts, Lansburgh Theater, 450 7th St. NW. $30. (202) 785-9727; see City List for a complete schedule.