Epsilon chapter on MTV2 tomorrow
 

Some of the sisters of Episilon Chapter(Arkansas) will perform at 3 pm tomorrow on the MTV2 program, "Sprite Step Off". Be sure to tune in!!

Like a step-show?

Hmm...

Alot of the sororities dislike ZTA because they hire a professional coach for step-show...they use to win it every year, but I don't think they've won it recently. Maybe this year? since I've been gone.

*gasp* Are you kidding me??? Are they actually advancing in the Step Off? I have no problem with them qualifying to perform -- the show intentionally was left open for non-NPHC organizations to perform. But a professional coach goes completely against the spirit of stepping.

If this is the case, that makes that chapter extremely lame. I hope they lose.

I mean, to be honest, I don't know if they still do. They did, and there was alotta backlash. They may still.

I love the ZTA's, good group of gals. But the coach turned alot of houses against them.

Ever having a professional coach is bad enough. They should learn about stepping the way the rest of us did.

And if they can't, they shouldn't be a GLO chapter that steps.

Well you need to go figure it out so I can figure out who to boo and how severely.

Pretty much.

And just so folks understand, this is not about BGLOs "owning the rights" to stepping as much as its about disappointment that the most fundamental community aspect of the art is lost.

I was on a step team in college which was non-Greek. About half of the twenty founding members came from communities where stepping among youth and adolescents was normal. The other half were familiar with it from television. None of us were Greek. We relied on our own experiences, brought our own steps from home, and MADE THEM UP as we went along.

12 years later, they are still doing some of our original steps and have added their own twist on them. Gotten new ones. Retired old ones. And by and large, are a better team now than we ever were.

i have no idea if this group has or has had in the past a professional coach. i was announcing to my SISTERS in OUR forum that this group would be on television tomorrow if they were so inclined to tune it.

if there is a rule against having a coach, then they should not be allowed to compete. if there is not a rule against it, and enough folks become aware that one group, or perhaps more, have had outside help, if there is proof and people think it is unfair,then they should change the rules for the next year. until then, they should be allowed to compete.

GOOD for YOU.

Even with a professional to assist, stepping is hard anyway. I'm in a non-traditional sorority and we prefer strolling since it includes music.

And I'm sure your sisters as well as the hundreds of non-sisters who will view this thread appreciate it.

Stepping with a coach is so uncommon that certainly the rules will have to catch up next year.

In the meantime, those of us who have the cultural competence to understand the significance of it all will continue to point and boo.

To play devil's advocate - without a coach, how would a group without a history of stepping even compete? Or is that the point? I personally don't like bringing in professionals for any collegiate competition be it Greek Sing or Soap Box Derby - but I am in a definite minority, it seems, among alumni. The competitions just seem to get bigger and bigger, and become more about winning than the team building and fun their purpose once was.

Is the thinking by those who are critical that it somehow ruins the true intent of the competition?

I agree that all the teams should be on the same page, and if it is a problem it should be addressed in the rules.

You have pretty much paraphrased my entire feeling on the matter.

I'd only add to it that much of the meaning of learning how to step is being taught by the older chapter members or alumni. The fact that somebody is willing to volunteer their time to teach the traditions.

I also realize that this whole tangent is based on potentially inaccurate information put forth by Elephant Walk, but his word happens to be one that I value and trust.

Got it - thanks.

They can watch videos on-line or talk to GLOs on campus that have an experience with stepping.

Perhaps and it cheapens the whole meaning. GLO stepping (the actual "stomp" stepping and not the "dance routines" that were done before) began with collegiate BGLOers and alumni BGLOers coming together with ideas and learning along the way. They sometimes had other chapters (and some even had other BGLO frats and sororities) help them. This process included making mistakes, having crappy routines, and eventually learning how it's supposed to be done. This is how it is still done in undergraduate and graduate chapters.

Daag, Senusret I is such a mind reader.

Well, according to this, that particular chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha learned how to step from the AKAs on their campus. This should be an interesting documentary. Too bad I don't have mtv2.

If I see a single ivy-stance in their routine, I am booing.

They have hot Matrix-inspired costumes though.

I expect the non-NPHCs to learn from NPHC, so no surprise there. Having some level of AKA help is not the worst thing in the world (I'm being tolerant) and it's better than hiring a formal coach.

I definitely agree. On my campus we had the Ebony and Ivory (I hated that name) stepshow where NPHC and non-NPHC teams would be paired together to put a routine as one team. It was very entertaining.

LOL. That is a HORRIBLY outdated name.

So, on that note, if ZTA was to win, I would nod my head in acknowledgement of their stepping skills but really credit their win to the AKAs who taught them the tools and routine.

Ooh good point! Well the show was fascinating (all 30 mins of it) guess I'll have to tune in next week. They seem to focus more on the drama between the individual members of each org (No surprise there:rolleyes:) than the stepping itself. I really can't see a winner based on the overwhelming lack of stepping.

Am I the only one that shook my head several times during the 1st episode?

Depends on what you were shaking your head at.

What sorority and fraternity won 1st place?

Actually, I kind of take what I typed back. The AKAs taught them 16 years ago. I assume they've learned and built their own traditions since then.

I missed the show. What drama? Are they trying to do a Real World/soap opera from it? :rolleyes: I just want to see steps. Is that too much to ask? Of course it is--especially from something geared towards the mainstream.

Please excuse the crash, Zeta Ladies.
 

I should probably keep my mouth shut on this, but here's my two cents:

When I was in school, AKA was the only NPHC sorority which sent a delegate to the Collegiate Panhellenic meetings. They decided to take part in Greek Sing that year. Nobody thought to ask them what it entailed, just gave them the same rules everyone else got (how many members, background music v. a cappella, etc). They didn't think to ask.

So, Greek Sing came, and all of the IFC fraternities & NPC sororities showed up in their highly detailed costumes, prepared music, and sang the Broadway standards or classic Neil Diamond, Beatles, or whatever songs. Then the AKA sisters took the stage - in their line clothing, doing step songs. Everyone could tell that they were scared and in shock, and for a second, nobody clapped at all. I'm proud to say that the ADPis and the fraternities we were sitting with all stood and clapped and whistled for them, then everyone else also clapped.

One of these days, we're going to quit blaming each other for not getting the rules straight, and instead, make sure that everyone's on the same page BEFORE the problems start. We're going to realize that there are culture differences which shouldn't divide us, but unite us by their very differences. It starts here, folks, on places like GreekChat, so long as we don't tear each other apart to do so.
[/soapbox]

Not being told the rules isn't what we're talking about. ;)

However, 10-15 years ago, the NPHC orgs at the schools that I've attended and worked with had the exact same experience as that AKA chapter you're typing about. :) If everyone's going to be included, everyone should be told the rules and it should be understood that not every group will be able to fit with the rules. Then, if it's not a mandatory activity like Panhel meetings and Greek Week are at many schools, the groups can decide to bow out gracefully if need be.

You totally missed the point. If you care, go back and read thru all the posts although it is possible that you just won't get it. And that's fine too.

I don't think I've missed the point, but I am questioning the venue.

And if the ZTA mod would like to delete my posts, please do so.

just got word that the zetas won their regional event and will be advancing.

Congrats to our sisters for WINNINIG the Sprite Step Off 2010 Saturday night in Atlanta!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw66oy5xyDw

Competition should be on the March 7, 3 PM EST, MTV2 show.

wow!! way to go epsilon!!

Wow! Those girls can definitely move! :)

GO ZTA!!

While I understand the cultural significance and history of stepping to NPHC orgs (thanks to Ludacris explaining it on the show and my fellow GCers), this particular competition was open to all orgs. So I say, if you can do it well enough to win, then you should win, regardless of which council your org is in.

GO ZTA!

This is not the issue. There are a whole lot of different feelings out there from the D9. Some really don't care and actually agree with you, some feel that non-D9 orgs should not share in our tradition at all, some feel that only D9 should have participated in this particular show since the money pot was so big and we are the ones that have made stepping what it is today and also were used to heavily promote this event, some take issue with the fact that many non-D9 orgs that are embracing stepping today have no idea of the history or tradition, and many other feelings.

Also stepping is about innovation, creativity, and originality and some are quite pissed that ZTA brought nothing new and instead used all D9 steps in their show, even the stepping on the raised platform. Some say that if the judges were greek and not celebrities, that they would not have won doing other orgs' steps which is not looked upon favorably by those that know and appreciate stepping. So this is what all the feelings are about.

But I say congrats to ZTA. I just hope they will bring the creativity and originality next year. I think more people will respect their performance then. However, I can't be too supportive when you are doing steps that have been in my org for years and yes they had a little bit of everyone's steps in there. Most non-D9 step teams study us but make up new moves if they care about not copying and disrespecting us. ZTA needs to do the same.

^^^THIS!

This debate is getting on my nerves already, and I just stumbled upon it last night. Both extremes of the debate are driving me insane right now.

As someone who has both created, learned, performed and judged performance routines, albeit not stepping, but ones in which the scoring categories are pretty much the same, i think ZTA performed really well. With few exceptions their timing and precision was great, they were in fact entertaining, good costumes, etc. But even before reading comments and such, I sat through almost the entirety of their routine like, "I've seen the Alphas do that, the Ques, do that, etc. etc." Their creativity in the routine was pretty much nil.

If this is in fact a successful event next year, and they participate, I agree with rhoyaltempest and hope they bring new material to the stage.

Well done, Ladies
 

I've been away from Greekchat for a year or so, but logged back in just so I could say how gobsmacked I was by the performance of the Epsilon Chapter in the Sprite Step-Off. Those ladies stepped hard, and my mouth was like :eek: the entire time!

From where I sit, Epsilon chapter not only deserved the award because of their performance, but because of the humility and respect shown by the step team leader in the post-performance interview where she talked about the honour and respect ZTA has for the NPHC, and how graciously she displayed love for her sorority without disparaging others.

Now if only I could make out what the women were chanting during their routine...

Again, well deserved congratulations, ZTA. I look forward to seeing you -- and other NPC sororities -- participating in step shows in the future (are you listening, Alpha Phi?) ;)