History of Stepshows

[joker]

Hey everyone. I am an Alpha (Beta Omicron, Tennessee State University, 81) and am new to this group. I am finishing my dissertation about successful Black Students and need a little information.

Specifically, can anyone give me or direct me to a historical account (like the origins) of stepshows or greekshows???

My limited understanding is that it started long ago with the Que's, but I have nothing more than that. I am interested because in my experience, some of the "stepping" traditions can be observed in military settings (drill teams, ect.)where there are a large number of Blacks. More relevant to my current study is that some Black High schools (including my research site) have step teams who participate in Greek shows.

Anyway, I will be describing what I observed at my research site, but want to place my observations in a historical context. If you have any information, please post here or send a message to my home e-mail address.

Oh, I'm not looking for any "secrets", just stuff like where the tradition originated, when it was started, how it caught on, ect.

Thanks.

Greg Diggs

[SoCalGirl]

Hi Greg!

Welcome to Greekchat! Questions similar to yours have been asked many times on here. If you run a search for stepshows you should find loads and loads of info. Including a few links to other sites.

I did have a few comments though. I may be wrong when it comes to military drill teams but I think that they were pretty much in full sinchronized force before Blacks started to join the armed forces. But when it comes to military drill teams I don't usually pay attention to individuals but the group as a whole. They've always fascinated me. Especially silent drill teams that do the quick work w/ the bayonettes. My dad did it in his younger days and has the scars to prove it.

I also wanted to point out that non Black high schools have step teams too. Especially in the South. I went to high school in VA Beach and our school had a team that was about half black and half Filipino. I don't know if they partcipated in any Greek step shows but I wouldn't have been surprised since we were right next door to Hampton and Norfolk State.

[MIDWESTDIVA]

Hello joker.

This website is very informative.
www.3n1promo.com/temple/step.html

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by SoCalGirl:
Hi Greg!

I did have a few comments though. I may be wrong when it comes to military drill teams but I think that they were pretty much in full sinchronized force before Blacks started to join the armed forces.

Blacks were in the military, they just had their own SEPARATE units that "noone" ever really talked/(s) about...

[SoCalGirl]

Hi AKA2D!

You are right! I was pretty much thinking of the time before Blacks were even allowed to join the armed forces. Before they even had seperate teams. Luckily today the military is integrated. But how integrated is open for debate.

[AKA2D '91]

I know...

[IotaNet]

Joker (and the Group:

There is a book that will be released soon that discusses this topic in depth. The name of the book is, "Soulstepping: Development and Transformation of African American Step Shows."The author is a Dr. Elizabeth Fine, who is a professor at Virgina Tech University

I have seen a manuscript and it is a thoroughly researched and documented work. The book will be published sometime early this year and there will also be a conference specifically on the topic of stepping.

If you need more info, drop me an e-mail.

------------------
IotaNet
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
3AH80

Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity
Zeta Nu Chapter, Spring, 1979

[justmyo]

I have always been interested in the history of The Step Show,I know the name has changed from region to region "Greek Scene,Greek show,etc.)I have talked to several members of greek organizations who were around in the 50's and 60's and they seem to remember that they have always been stepping.I will find this book very interesting and look forward to reading it.The other web site was interesting but I doubt the validity of some of it.For your research you need to contact some of the Alumni members of the older chapters in the midwest and east coast.I am sure the tradition was started at one of the single lettered chapters.As far as who started it,you will probably get Four different answers.Good luck on your research.

[DoggyStyle82]

From the OMEGA perspective, "stepping" officially began at Tennessee State University in the mid-50s. All the male BLGOs had greek sings and would sing to the Sorority girls. Many times, this was done in the quad or meeting area. Many of the Omegas had military backgrounds and with the advent of male singing groups who did steps while they sang, the Omegas perfected a style of "strolling or strutting" while they serenaded the ladies. This eventually developed into marching, which is what the "Bruhs" do. That is how Omega marching originated. How others developed and evolved, I don't know. I think alot of that Sigma website is conjecture, but nevertheless, interesting

[SoSweet8]

I just want to put in my two cents about where stepping originated from. From what I understand stepping was around long before any greek organization.It was a way that our ancestors showed there thankfulness to god. Not only did stepping orginate from that but all other dance is inspired by african/spiritual dance. Through out time we've just add our own flavor to it.

I could be wrong but thats were I think it comes from.

[This message has been edited by SoSweet8 (edited January 11, 2001).]

[joker]

Originally posted by DoggyStyle82:
From the OMEGA perspective, "stepping" officially began at Tennessee State University in the mid-50s. All the male BLGOs had greek sings and would sing to the Sorority girls. Many times, this was done in the quad or meeting area. Many of the Omegas had military backgrounds and with the advent of male singing groups who did steps while they sang, the Omegas perfected a style of "strolling or strutting" while they serenaded the ladies. This eventually developed into marching, which is what the "Bruhs" do. That is how Omega marching originated. How others developed and evolved, I don't know. I think alot of that Sigma website is conjecture, but nevertheless, interesting

Interesting. Since I went to Tennessee State, that is sort of what I heard. I mean, your version is what was taught to us by our (Alpha) big brothers.

Anyway, this is an topic that I hope to explore in the future. The responses have increased my knowledge and it seems that there may be reason to investigate further.

I don't really "care" who began the traditions...Omega's, Sigma's that's all good in my book. But I think I want to track it down because it is a unique part of Black Greek and African-American culture and history.

[joker]

Originally posted by joker:
Interesting. Since I went to Tennessee State, that is sort of what I heard. I mean, your version is what was taught to us by our (Alpha) big brothers.

Anyway, this is an topic that I hope to explore in the future. The responses have increased my knowledge and it seems that there may be reason to investigate further.

I don't really "care" who began the traditions...Omega's, Sigma's that's all good in my book. But I think I want to track it down because it is a unique part of Black Greek and African-American culture and history.

Thanks, I appreciate that. I think that I was originally more interested in when Greeks started doing it. But I checked out the Sigma's website which included some of the African origins of stepping. You pointed out the spiritual origins. And I read something about the African tradition of the 'ring-shout' in a book called 'Signifyin', Sanctifyin' and slam dunking by gena caponi. This was interesting because when I was in school, we used to step in public while a crowd formed a circle around us. Different greeks would take turns stepping and singin. Thus, what I thought of as either spontaneous or just a local practice, may also have Afican roots.

Anyway, thanks for your thoughtful response. One day I will work harder to pull some of this together. Or, it seems that others are already working on the topic.

[DoggyStyle82]

JOKER: I was not claiming that OMEGA started Stepping, I just know how it originated in our org in its current form. The genesis for that was at TSU. From the history that I know and the Omegas that I have spoken to that lived through the 20's and 30's only mentioned that they sang. Any competion between frats was of an academic, athletic, or singing nature.

[Discogoddess]

SoCal Girl et al:

Just a point of clarfication:

You are right! I was pretty much thinking of the time before Blacks were even allowed to join the armed forces.

From Crispus Attucks, the first man to die for America in the American Revolution, blacks have always been "allowed" to die for this country in EVERY SINGLE conflict, though they most often returned home from war only to be beaten, have their uniforms, medals and stripes desecrated, lynched while still in uniform and generally not allowed to exercise the "freedom" they fought for overseas or at home (Civil War). Despite all this, black men and women have served in the armed forces of this country since its inception.

Sorry to be off-topic. Just something I feel strongly about.



[This message has been edited by Discogoddess (edited January 15, 2001).]

[PositivelyAKA]

some frat from Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. went to Africa back in the early 90's and brought back a video of African men who were essentially doing the exact same steps that current black greeks do today, bruhs and the natives were stepping together, it was TIGHT!!!! it was so similiar that you had to laugh, i mean i don't care how far you take a person from their culture bits and pieces of that are still in their soul/genes and it goes with you through generations. i've heard rumours about who started the stepping etc. but i would say that it just evolved over time in each organization because the African men were stepping way before any of us even had a frat or sorority to claim, dang probably even the slaves had a form of stepping, how about that but i must give it up to my frat the Alphas i love your shows keep up the good work you always represent amazingly well, i see nothing more appealing then a gentleman that can step his tail off as well as hold his own in an intellectual discussion peace.