Students, parents and alumni flocked to Lovett Auditorium to watch the annual National Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show. As a part of Homecoming tradition, Greeks gets involved by participating in the contest.
“I went to the step show last year, and it was amazing,” Jesus Siqueiors, freshman from Murray, said. “I think it’s neat to see everyone dressed up and showing spirit.”
Stepping is a style of dance that involves stomping and clapping to make a beat. Aside from being a part of the organization, it takes soul, passion, talent and individuality to become a part of a step team. The contest consisted of four different sororities; Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma. The fraternities consisted of Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Iota Phi Theta, Phi Beta Sigma and Alpha Phi Alpha.
Alpha Kappa Alpha members perform a step routine Saturday.
Colors, themes, costumes and makeup contributed to bringing the show to life. When stepping, competitors might yell out the year their organizations were founded or Greek letters to show spirit. The crowd reacted to their performances by chanting, singing and dancing along with them.
In between every performance, Rick Daniels, the host, asked the disc jockey to drop a beat and everyone in the audience got up and danced along with him.
At the end of the event, the winner was announced. The first-place sorority was Zeta Phi Beta and the first-place fraternity was Alpha Phi Alpha.
The second-place sorority was Alpha Kappa Alpha and the second-place fraternity was Phi Beta Sigma.
Zeta Phi Beta, the returning champion, took the title for individuality by adding extras, props and costumes to the performance.
“I feel so accomplished,” Mary Harris, senior from Louisville, Ky., said. “This will be my first and last step show because I’m graduating this year, but it feels good to win. Some people don’t understand how much work and time it takes to produce a turnout like this.”
Stepping might be difficult for the average person but to the steppers, it is a way to showcase their talent and take pride in their organizations.
Story by McKenzie Willett, Staff Writer
