For LT’s Steppers, along with nine other step teams who competed at the 10th annual “Step Into The Lion’s Den” show on April 18 in the NC Reber, the body is itself an instrument. Rather than dancing to music, the performers primarily used synchronized percussive movement, such as stomping and clapping, as well as spoken words, to tell stories.
“What I really love about Steppers is how it feels like a family and fits a lot of my different interests,” Stepper Amaya Miller ‘28 said. “It incorporates acting, music, dancing, stepping, and being in a team-slash-competition environment.”
Each team’s performance had a visual theme, portrayed by elaborate costumes and small sets, as well as humorous plotlines told through pre-recorded dialogue. For instance, the high school team Stepping Foxes had a Super Mario-themed dance in which most of the dancers were dressed as Princess Peach and told a story where a disguised Mario kidnapped one of the “Peaches” out of jealousy for their stepping skills.
The middle school Supreme Step Team of Studio 907 had a school-themed performance where two groups of dancers battled over which side would do the other’s homework by competing in a “step-off”. The LT Steppers, who did not compete for a placing due to LT hosting the event, performed with a courtroom theme, which was suggested by Miller.
“I am one of the captains-in-training, so I am also learning a lot about leadership and communicating effectively with my teammates,” Miller said.
Step is an African American style of dance that was first popularized by black sororities and fraternities in the 1900s and can be traced back to African tribes. Central to its development were a group of black Greek-letter organizations known as the Divine Nine. A brief history of Step was described by emcee and former LT Steppers Coach MaCassa Johnson at the beginning of the show.
“I love that the atmosphere [of Steppers] is productive, honest, and respectful,” Coach Tamiaka Killins said. “A cool thing is that students started [LT] Steppers; [they] got the club approved by the board and everything.”
While the show was delayed to around 4:50 p.m. due to technical difficulties, the enthusiastic audience waved their hands and danced in the aisles to the pre-show music. The audience was also encouraged to cheer during the performances.
“This is the space for you to be loud,” Johnson said.
The top three winning teams in the high school and middle school divisions each received monetary rewards in addition to a trophy. The team Figure 5 won first place in the high school division for $500, and the middle school team Studio 907 won $400 for first place.
“[Steppers is] chaotic yet very fun,” Stepper A’Nahla McKenzie ‘27 said. “Meeting new teams and seeing new performances is amazing to me.”
The LT Steppers have won first place for three competitions in a row this year and will be heading to Nationals in New Jersey on May 23.
“[I like] absolutely everything [about Steppers],” Killins said. “The family feel of it, the chance that I get to view the students as they grow, mature, get As in classes, shine brightly at competitions, see the joy in their faces as they win and have fun at events, and more.”