Competitors stroll off at rec center
Published Oct. 21, 2003
"This ain't stepping, this is a stroll off!" yelled a man in the crowd.
Spectators gathered on two sets of bleachers and along white fences set up around an impromptu stage Friday night at the Student Recreation Center.
As college students, parents and children filled the gym, eight women wearing black satin jackets with white stripes around the collar, wrist and waistlines grooved in their seats to music played by KJLU/88.9 FM DJ K-Tone as his party lights flashed and a smoke machine occasionally spurted out little clouds.
The crowd gathered for the annual Non-Greek Stroll Off, sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
Set to start at 9:08 p.m., the event featured groups performing to music by artists including Beyoncé, P. Diddy and Nelly.
The groups met for last-minute run-throughs of their routines and praying circles as a speaker announced the start of the show.
At 9:28 p.m., the first group, Outer Limits, marched out to the center of the stage dressed in fatigue pants, black tank tops and armbands as the crowd erupted in applause. As they performed, the audience responded by dancing along to the songs played in the set and cheering.
The second group, decked out in red, blue and tan tops and black hats, stomped and clapped around the stage in a line as the crowd whooped.
The only group with male performers, The Fab Five, closed the competition. The group featured three men and two women from the first group of the night. They stomped and danced so hard one member lost his shoe.
Fab Five member Jerico Riley mentored the group in the art of stroll offs, junior Abra McField said.
"I've always been a dancer," she said. "I've been quick to learn things. We've only had about four weeks to learn the routine."
Riley said he thought the group did well.
"We weren't allowed to get any help from any Greeks," he said. "I think we fared well. It was just about having fun."
Following the competition portion of the evening, a dance party was held in the gym at the Student Recreation Center. At the dance party, the group called the Fierce Felines, who wore black satin jackets, won.
"I liked it a lot," said sophomore Meyru Yahya, who attended the event. "Overall, it went really well. I like that they held it off and gave people time to get there. The after-party was a lot of fun, too."