Stepping OnThe Moon: One Small Step for NPHC, One Giant Step For Unity.

With several signature events having already taken place within the NPHC community, expectations and anticipation are at an all-time high for this year’s Step Show. Around this time last year, the campus was buzzing with speculation about who would steal the show and take home first place in the NPHC Show Out.  

After two intense rounds of stepping and strolling, the brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Alpha Beta Kappa Chapter emerged as the victors. 

This year’s Step Show is scheduled to take place April 12 at 6 p.m. in the Harris T. Wilks Theatre in the Armstrong Student Center. Britney Crosby, current Vice President of NPHC and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., has worked diligently to make sure this year’s show would be a success. She has been coordinating the show since the 2013 spring semester. Crosby has revamped the entire stepping experience by allowing teams to compete in only one round for seven minutes.  Although seven minutes may seem short, to some, seven minutes of intense, stage shaking stepping and strolling can feel like hours to performers.  

“The planning of the step show has been a journey and has taught me many lessons in time management, preparation and clarity” says Crosby. “I have enjoyed every minute of it and I take pride in the event, which I know will be exceptional!” 

Conditioning, precision and cohesiveness are just a few of the things teams will need to consider while preparing for this year’s show.

Stepping derives from African American heritage where performers use their body to produce percussive sounds, unique rhythms and songs or chants that can be executed in a unified manner.  Stepping is an expressive way for members of the National PanHellenic Council to pay homage to their founding members and respective organizations. Stomping and hand claps were added after Ghana native, Kwame Nkrumah, was initiated into Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. His incorporation of props, such as canes, were derived from African culture. This historical and tribal like dance makes stepping powerful. 

Nowadays, NPHC organizations take the foundations and blueprints of stepping used by their prophytes, or older members, and use them to create unique and inventive shows for others to see.  On April 12,the aforementioned – and more – will be on display!