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.