Stepping to their own beat

Greek organizations performed skits and stepped to entertain audiences on Friday. Students, graduates and even children crowded Jesse Auditorium to voice their support.

By John Hendel

Published April 25, 2006

The National Pan-Hellenic Council, composed of historically black fraternities and sororities, concluded Greek Week with a strong celebration of community and tradition by holding its annual step show on Friday. The fraternities and sororities performed skits and stepping, a form of dance revolving around beats, claps and rhythm.

"The dances symbolize the movement of Africa," said junior Jerico Riley, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and captain of the fraternity's step group. "It's a link uniting African Americans to their ancestors and their homeland."

This tradition matters to the NPHC. The organization's Web site outlines its policy on stepping: "The tradition of stepping predates back to African, more specifically West African and South African tribal and oral traditions, and more recently transfigured from the days of slavery to the modern inception of the organizations we belong to today." The policy talks about using stepping to uplift, educate and honor tradition.

Riley said that despite regular offers to perform, Alpha Phi Alpha's step team typically performs only about three times a year due to scheduling issues.

It has been a busy year for Riley's step team. Members performed as recently as mid-April during Alpha Week, which celebrated the national chapter's 100th anniversary, and at the Missouri Theatre in February for a district competition.

"Our time is very limited," Riley said. "If we're not giving to the community, we're planning events and being involved."

This year Riley's step group had more passion than usual for the NPHC Step Show due to what some refer to as the "upset" of last year's competition. At the 2005 NPHC Step Show, the judges awarded Phi Beta Sigma fraternity the top prize.

"We won five years in a row," Riley said. "Should've been six."

Stephanie Hudson, a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority step group, agreed that last year's results have fired up the fraternity.

"It was a sweep, as they like to say," Hudson said, "and now the Alphas are working extra hard this year."

Members of Riley and Hudson's step groups prepared intensely last week and practiced together at Stephens College's dance studio on Wednesday to critique each other's moves and enjoy the common bond of stepping.

"It can be rigorous," Riley said. "We're put a lot of pressure on ourselves."

He attributed this to the reality that his step group of six had been practicing only for little more than a week. Still, even though his team immediately concentrated on stepping at the practice, they always have fun. Two men even began a playful mock duel with plungers.

"By the end of the night, everyone's running around and acting the fool," Hudson said.

Riley drilled his team hard but remained lighthearted. Jokes and laughter created an open, fun atmosphere, even though all were sweating from stepping.

"The most rewarding thing is in practice, just being with my brothers, just enjoying each others' company," Riley said. "It's the bond in putting together a good show."

Alpha Phi Alpha brought that passion to the NPHC Step Show on Friday night in Jesse Auditorium. As the show began, an excitable crowd erupted with applause for the emcee, senior Jermaine Reed, who shouted, "I think this is nothing but a party tonight!" He pumped up the music and danced throughout the evening.

The night consisted of six performances by NPHC organizations and a special final dance. The brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha opened up the step show. Smoke covered the stage, and the men, classily dressed in white shirts and black ties, engaged in a diverse stepping routine, heavy on singing and movement. Hudson had mentioned that the team emphasized stepping over skits. The members coordinated and synchronized their movements like clockwork.

A variety of other performances kept the night highly entertaining. Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority opened with a palace skit. A queen demanded entertainment, and the palace's servants took up the task through stepping. The women even divided into groups of three and had a dance-off.

Phi Beta Sigma fraternity seduced the audience with a strobe light and tried to prove themselves as "smooth Sigmas." The fraternity projected Facebook.com groups such as "I LOVE It When the Sigmas Get Crunk!!!" on a giant screen.

"Having access to the equipment in Jesse has really allowed our groups to take their performances up another notch," NPHC President Chris Jefferson said.

Other entertainment included Delta Sigma Theta sorority's themed performance about a hairdressing salon called "Diva's 'Dos," complete with hairdryers and aprons, and Zeta Phi Beta sorority's boot camp skit. Reed also held a dance contest where Alpha brother Louis Byrd performed a near moonwalk to the awe of the audience.

After the Greek organizations performed, the dance group LBC Shades entertained as the judges deliberated. Reed then thanked several people such as Jefferson and Vice Chancellor Cathy Scroggs, who also attended the event.

"She's got a little black in her tonight," Reed said about Scroggs.

Finally, he announced the night's winners: Alpha Phi Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta. Members of the fraternity and sorority rushed up to accept the giant trophies. Alpha Phi Alpha looked especially happy to reclaim its place as champion of the NPHC Step Show.

"I was more excited for the team," Riley said about the win. "I thought we had a good chance. We probably could have performed better."

Riley said he liked many of the night's performances and described the Sigmas as sharp and clean and the Kappas as funny as usual. Jefferson said that the show was a success and cited support from several elements on campus.

"This is wonderful," Scroggs said about the night. "Look at the number of students. It's a friendly competition."