"Step" is a blend of tap dance, cheer-leading, drill team and military marching (see wikipedia, it never lies...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_dance). Evidently, it is a tradition for black sororities and fraternities to have step teams, each with its own signature moves, style, hand gestures and shout-outs ("oooh-oooh" are Deltas? I think).
The show kicked off with a middle-school all girls team performance, with a courtroom theme--the team was on trial for being the best steppers around. Regardless, they were probably the best group in the entire show, totally in sync with one another, very serious about their stepping.
Like figure skating, each team had a time limit (12 mins) and were judged on their creativity and coordination. I didn't have a key informant this time so I really have no idea how the judging was determined. Anyway, each team performed their stepping to a theme; they all told a story. I found it interesting that of the six mens teams, four of them stepped to a military-mad scientist theme. Check out these photos--yes, those are gold boots and oh yes, the other guys have Planet of the Apes masks on.
I went with my friends April, Cait, Meaghan and Raquel--we were all very impressed by the athleticism of the fraternity steppers--especially when they wore wife-beater tank tops (I digress). The last group to perform was a sorority alumni chapter who performed a street-cleaner themed step, they were my pick to win. Emory University even featured a group who stepped to various 80s hits. The crowd was alive at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center. We had a crazy, possibly drunk, and definitely not-Tyler Perry MC entertain us with nice off-color humor (but it's a family show!). LL Cool J was there, too--the crowd went crazy, like he was a Beatle (but obviously not old, English, and LL would never be in a band as lame as Wings). Too bad he forgot his shirt on before leaving the house (Again, I digress).
I couldn't help notice something special about the aesthetic effect of a group of people moving together in unison. I was equally impressed by it at the Battle of the Bands. If you look at other forms of traditional dance, its not only an expression of group identity--it's when commitment and solidarity are transformed into art do we see the power of people intent on communicating a physical expression of community, commonality--no matter what form it takes.
For the record, I have no idea what the difference is between Ol Skool and Nu Skool step so if you happen to know, please tell me. Also, if you can teach me how to pronounce "Boisfeuillet" in its appropriate Georgia patois I'll give you a dollar.
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