Sprite Step-Off Update: ZTA and AKA to share 1st place

[LatinaAlumna]

I would urge you ladies (als and kappamd) to take a look at the discussion on this topic on the Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta boards--if you want to broaden your perspective, that is.

[DrPhil]

LOL @ some of my bestfriends are _________.

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

LOL @ some of my bestfriends are _________.

And my personal favorite white person comment: "It's 2010 and people can't get beyond race."

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

LOL @ some of my bestfriends are _________.

ha ha. I should have read ahead before I commented on this. Or maybe not.

[rhoyaltempest]

Now THIS is interesting (don't forget the audio):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKYrCtE0gFg

Apparently AKA has been spreading the love for some years at the U. of Arkansas.

[rhoyaltempest]

Look familiar? LMMFAO!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qvY7...eature=related

[I.A.S.K.]

Originally Posted by als463

What the hell does "Po' lil Tink Tink" even mean? What a stupid thing to say. I have no idea who you are or what you think you know about me. Saying that they shouldn't have won makes YOU seem a little childish. Oh, and if you're going to come on here and make comments (or at least attempt to insult me) please say something that makes sense to people OTHER THAN YOU.

What does it mean? Ask your minority friends. Maybe they'll know. And clearly at least one other person understood it. see below.

Originally Posted by dreamseeker

after the comments you made abt the killer whale and this, i think i hate you.
ctfu

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Now THIS is interesting (don't forget the audio):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKYrCtE0gFg

Apparently AKA has been spreading the love for some years at the U. of Arkansas.

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Look familiar? LMMFAO!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qvY7...eature=related

And it is official...FYL to ZTA for using a 2008 routine (based on steps from 19..I mean 2007) with NO revisions! If your routine can be found on youtube (and its not from the same year) then your step show performance is an #epicfail.

[dreamseeker]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Look familiar? LMMFAO!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qvY7...eature=related

oh damn... #epicfail indeed. i only watched the first 58 secs. that's all i needed to see.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Look familiar? LMMFAO!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qvY7...eature=related

I guess they put their heart into that one routine and teach that to every new team member. That may or may not be a bad thing and here's why...

For those who don't know (I know rhoyaltempest knows this ):

Step teams create routines and they sometimes have an "exhibition version" and a "competition version." Good shows take a very long time to create, teach, learn, and implement WELL (anyone can step like crap--stepping well takes some level of skill, dedication, and time).

If you are able to see a particular team in more than one performance (exhibition or competition), you will sometimes find that they have used the same performance for multiple shows within the calendar year. However, you won't find too many good teams that use the same competition-based show for two years in a row; and teach that exact show to all new members and new steppers. UNLESS it is a routine that they keep in their "vault" to perform for low-level shows like a "welcome back" event or chapter programs. Most campus and certain local shows aren't worth the time it takes to create new shows--so you pull stuff from the "vault" that you already know.

Now that ZTA has become known for that routine, thanks youtube , they will want to create a new one for future competitions. THEY, meaning not a choreography and/or a nonZTA. If they can pull that off without outside help and without stealing steps, I say GOOD LUCK, and if they win, I say CONGRATS.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Now THIS is interesting (don't forget the audio):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKYrCtE0gFg

Apparently AKA has been spreading the love for some years at the U. of Arkansas.

Okay serious question folks (especially Black folks), why is it that we feel the need to give away/share our traditions??? (and the Lawrence Ross article is typical of Lawrence Ross so no, the article wasn't interesting to me).

Really. When I first heard unity stepshow I thought that the AKA's at the U. of Arkansas were sponsoring a unity stepshow where both NPHC and other greeks participated in together (stepping together) but from the looks of the videos, it's an all NPC and other greeks stepshow, promotiong unity among those groups (even though apparently the winner got to compete in the annual NPHC stepshow).

I'm pretty sure those greeks have their own unifying events like the Greek Sing at some schools. So why do we (as Black folks) feel the need to show others and not only show them, but get them involved in what we do exclusively (or almost exclusively)? Is it that we are still trying to be accepted? are we showing off? are we just kind hearted? I really want to know your thoughts on this.

It's not racist to hold dear your cultural traditions and many other cultures TRULY value theirs and wouldn't even consider involving others in what they hold dear and in what they feel only they can truly understand and appreciate. This is something that I really admire about the Latin community.

I am sooooo serious about this question (although ofcourse I have my own opinions and ideas) and welcome your thoughts.

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Okay serious question folks (especially Black folks), why is it that we feel the need to give away/share our traditions??? (and the Lawrence Ross article is typical of Lawrence Ross so no, the article wasn't interesting to me).

I have been pondering this question myself. I've never been one to think this was okay. But I know many people who have the mentality, as someone else mentioned, that it is "cute" to do so. Cute because they think that they are teaching them (white people) something new. Sorry if that is harsh, but that's really what some people have actually said. It's a show-off kind of thing. smh

I agree that it isn't racist to hold those traditions dear. Although I have noticed that some will certainly try to make it seem so.

[KAPital PHINUst]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Okay serious question folks (especially Black folks), why is it that we feel the need to give away/share our traditions???

Wolfman said it best several pages back in this thread:

Originally Posted by Wolfman

On a broader note, this brings up the costs of operating in an "integrated" society. We, as black people, tended only to look at the benefits of access to institutions and services enjoyed by others but not the fact that this also meant that we would be some "assimilation" on our end. You can't have one without the other. The real issue is how this dynamic is navigated.

Simply put, we simply do not live in a society that has a monolithic culture and/or homogenous population. You want to live in an integrated society? Giving away some of our traditions is part of the price that we have to pay for integrating.

It is inherently expected that in any given society, everyone within it is expected to contribute to the society to help define it. It is unrealistic to expose your subculture your immediate society and not expect others to want to participate.

You live in America, a melting pot which consists of a largely diverse conglomerate of other cultures. So it is virtually impossible to totally insulate your culture from other cultures, because you co-exist with them every day. FWIW, America has a tendency to bastardize other cultures in some way or form because of the "melting pot" theory.

Simply put, you want to keep your traditions to yourself? Go find an isolated area of land and create a society that consists of the monolithic culture and homogenous population that you seek, and your traditions will be more or less secured within the confines of your society. But bottom line, you won't find that here.

[IlovemyAKA]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Really. When I first heard unity stepshow I thought that the AKA's at the U. of Arkansas were sponsoring a unity stepshow where both NPHC and other greeks participated in together (stepping together)

My Alma mater held a unity show each year, and that's how it was presented. An NPHC frat & NPC sorority would step together and an NPHC sorority and NIC frat would step together. Each org would also incorporate something of their own. For example, Alphas may teach Alpha Taus a simple step, then the girls would incorporate a dance routine of their making.

[srmom]

If anyone is to blame it's Sprite and/or MTV and they are just trying now to save face although it's really too late. Many errors and wrong doings occurred during this event even in the regional competitions. My sorors for example, competed against other D9 sororities coming in last place in Chicago when it was obvious that they should've come in 1st or 2nd. Sprite then reviewed the scoring sheet and changed the decision and gave my sorors 2nd place, although some still believed they should've gotten 1st. Errors like this occurred throughout the entire competition from what I hear and everything was very disorganized. Scoring sheets were reviewed several times because of discrepancies. It became obvious to many that Sprite was really only interested in capitalizing on the popularity of the D9. Many also thought that this was only a D9 competition since the D9 was used mostly for advertising and promotion. Many members were shocked to learn eventually that the competition was not a D9 event.

If what you're saying in this paragraph is true, then the whole event, from regionals to nationals sounds like a bogus competition where Sprite/Coke is only worried about the marketing implications and covering their ass.

Perhaps the best solution would be to take the whole event away from this "corporate agenda driven" entity and put it back into the realm of college competitions where the judges would be collegiates with the proper credentials and knowledge of history of the dances/steps to make the correct judging decisions.

IMO, the controversy only underminds the legitimacy of the competition (just like in scoring at the Olympics)

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by srmom

If what you're saying in this paragraph is true, then the whole event, from regionals to nationals sounds like a bogus competition where Sprite/Coke is only worried about the marketing implications and covering their ass.

Perhaps the best solution would be to take the whole event away from this "corporate agenda driven" entity and put it back into the realm of college competitions where the judges would be collegiates with the proper credentials and knowledge of history of the dances/steps to make the correct judging decisions.

IMO, the controversy only underminds the legitimacy of the competition (just like in scoring at the Olympics)

In most cases, active alumnae members do the judging since collegiates are less likely to be completely honest, but I do agree that we need to keep it in house so we have more creative control, especially when we are used mostly for advertising and promotion. Also, getting the word out to all D9 chapters about the qualifying rounds of this competition could have been better planned which is why I believe many of the best teams around the country didn't even compete.