Stepping in non-black/Latin GLOs

DeeGeePee · #1 07-14-2002, 12:14 PM

Ok, I was posed this question, and wanted to know what the common view is on GC, so that I can help a friend of mine.

Historically, stepping has been an activity of mainly NPHC and Latin GLOs. Would it be seen as "wrong" or "weird" for a historically white GLO to start a step team and enter competitions? Would, for example, a NPHC sponsored event, where its mainly a competition between the divine 9, allow a white step team to enter? Would anyone feel that it would be innappropriate, given the cultural background of stepping from African rituals?

Just wondering what the concensus is...

SilverTurtle · #2 07-14-2002, 02:40 PM

First, I'm not a NPHC member, so my opinion may vary greatly from those that are.

I see you're in a MCGLO, and I know that I've heard of multi-cultural orgs. stepping.

I have read a little bit about stepping, and understand that its roots are very African in nature (A while back someone posted a link to an informative web site, but I can't find it just now). I think that why you're getting involved in stepping would have a lot to do with how NPHC orgs respond to you. I could very easily see groups feeling like you're stepping because you like the way it looks, or you want to be more like them, without having any understanding of its history, and then you would most likely be met with a bit of hostility. But if you can show you are interested in it for the right reasons, you might be surprised.

I've never seen a live step show, (yet) but I have seen some tapes & they're impressive. So be ready for some competition if you go for it!

legacypbs · #3 07-15-2002, 08:46 AM

The issue with this is we as NPHC orgs have very distiguished styles and tradition behind our steps. When new orgs participate in our stepshows problems arise when material they use is ours. I have seen many latino organizations that have their own latin flavor and I respect that. Stepping is more than dancing it's heritage.

legacypbs · #4 07-15-2002, 08:47 AM

Here's your link.

http://3n1promo.com/temple/step.html

D.0.7 · #5 07-15-2002, 12:08 PM

Even though i'm not apart of the Divine 9 i'm also a greek student of Color who founded my own fraternity along with 4 other guys. Now that i have introduce myself I feel that it's nothing wrong for a white fraternity or soror learning how to step. As you well know anyone can step, but it's the message that your sending out what really matters. When the African Americans frat, and sorors started stepping they did not step because it made there feet look good, but it was a meaning and a message that they were trying to send out to the world, and to our society. So if the White Greeks at your campus has a message that they want to put out threw stepping then i see no problem with it. So my answer is No i don't see nothing wrong with the white greeks learning apart of our traditional ways of greek life, we have been learning there's for so long so it's kinda good to see a white greek even attempting to learn how to step and from teaching others how to step it's no cake walk if you get my drift. So have fun with it learn from it, and hopefully we can have more of our white greeks being intrested in stepping instead of thinking we are being wild and obsence all the time when they see it done.

GOD Bless you all and remember Greeks Rules:

Mu Omega Pi Fraternity est. 2001 " Upholding The Standard Of Perfection"

OnePlus69Is70 · #6 07-15-2002, 02:42 PM

At UMass, the NPHC, Latino/a, and Asian groups all step. They don't generally invite the White groups, although mine was specifically invited (we're theoretically white, but we're actually mixed, and have friends in non-White groups). We declined, because we just didn't have time to get ready, but I went to watch for a bit, and it was very cool.

Tom Earp · #7 07-15-2002, 04:22 PM

OK, for the dummy in Kansas, what is stepping?

33girl · #8 07-15-2002, 08:54 PM

Tom,

Watch Road Rules on MTV tonight (I think this episode will be on at 8:30 your time). They participate in a step show.

sairose · #9 07-15-2002, 09:49 PM

On my campus, the Alpha Gams competed in a step show, and won first place.

#10 07-16-2002, 01:03 AM

[COLOR=royal blue]No Disrespect but who are the Alpha Gams?[/COLOR]

DWAlphaGam · #11 07-16-2002, 09:10 AM

The Alpha Gams are Alpha Gamma Delta.

Tom Earp · #12 07-16-2002, 06:25 PM

33girl, thanks for the info but I do not watch it!

Please explain!

I am not a TV Watcher unless I am reading Books at the same time!

Do I need Help! Da YSES!

starang21 · #13 07-16-2002, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sairose
On my campus, the Alpha Gams competed in a step show, and won first place.

what!?!?!!?!?!

CarolinaDG · #14 07-16-2002, 06:52 PM

Stepping is a kind of dance which is a series of rhythms, claps, stomps, whatever... sorry to be so technical, but it's one of those things that you just sort of have to see to understand...

To the AKA who said that it's about heritage, I have a question for you, then...

At my school, there's a homecoming competition just for step, but the only black fraternity that participates is A Phi A... Any thoughts? Since it's a primarily white competition with a primarily black origin, what are your thoughts about how it should be approached? I especially want to know this because I am choreographing ours, and even though I stepped in middle school, I don't remember enough steps, and I don't really want to look like a dumb white girl on the stage.;-)

legacypbs · #15 07-16-2002, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CarolinaDG

At my school, there's a homecoming competition just for step, but the only black fraternity that participates is A Phi A... Any thoughts? Since it's a primarily white competition with a primarily black origin, what are your thoughts about how it should be approached? I especially want to know this because I am choreographing ours, and even though I stepped in middle school, I don't remember enough steps, and I don't really want to look like a dumb white girl on the stage.;-)

What school are you at, I've never seen anything like that? The closest thing I have seen is a ebony/ivory stepshow where the teams are 2 orgs paired together.