Gospel Music, Religion, and Spirituality in Chicago Stepping

INSPIRED BY: A RESPONSE TO ME STEPPING TO GOSPEL MUSIC

Almost every seat was taken at the Sunday Brunch at Carolina Summer Nights in Durham, NC, but the dancefloor was empty. I heard a beautiful song. DJ House was on the 1s and 2s, starting early with great gospel music. I turned to Vince Barnes, “Let’s dance!” After we danced alone, I sat down, greeting everyone at the table. Someone said, “Sonji, you are bold. You were out there stepping to gospel music!” I said, “What do you mean?” She explained, “Stepping to gospel music doesn’t seem or feel right. Why do you think no one else is dancing?” There were questioning looks all around the table, anticipating my reply. “Well, I hate to waste a good song,” I shrugged and laughed.

I was not offended by the comments. Rather, I was puzzled, amused, and amazed. Was this a topic to discuss? The idea for this article was born at that moment in 2016. At least one person had a strong enough opinion or position to approach and reprimand me. Over the last six years, I paid attention to and learned more about gospel music and religious and spiritual influences in Chicago Stepping. The effort was through observation, research, and conversation. I identified familiar songs, gospel stepper sets, and other influences in the Stepping community. What would lead someone to say such a thing to me?

Gospel Music and Its Roots

What is gospel music? Gospel music promotes a spirit of hope and provides an outlet to worship God. It has inspired and drawn from popular music traditions but can be traced back to the 17th century. Gospel music helped slaves escape to freedom and paved the way for other styles of music. Gospel music’s footprint is in soul, jazz, reggae, blues, country, rock, and more.

Artists and songwriters like Little Richard, Aretha Franklin, and Kirk Franklin have blurred the lines between traditional gospel and mainstream music. It is easy to find songs with gospel messages integrated into lyrics but with a mainstream, secular feel and sound. There are gospel songs we step and walk to regularly that may not have an overt gospel “church” tone and vibe. Here are a few of those songs. Notice how many of the songs cross over more than one music genre. It has become more commonplace to talk about spirituality instead of religion, and this list considers both.

Gospel Songs on the Stepper Set

Some long-standing traditional values and views may explain why some people see stepping to gospel music or mixing Stepping and gospel music as a no-no. However, things and times are changing. Today in Stepping communities all over the country, DJs play songs at the stepper sets that integrate gospel messages into all types of music that we dance to. We step to gospel music. Listen to the words of the songs.

A Chicago Perspective on Gospel Music, Spirituality, Religion

What helped to guide the research was readily available public information and the people. I had to get personal, and I started with Chicago. Chicago is where I first knew of regular gospel stepper sets and social groups and individuals fulfilling their ministry through stepping events and time on the set.

Regular Gospel Stepper Sets

Looking at Chicago, I have seen a few weekly gospel stepper sets listed week after week in Cynthia Bean’s weekly email newsletter. Sets were hosted at Luversia’s, Josephine’s, and the Quarry Event Center across different issues from 2013, 2016, and 2019. I have not attended a gospel set in Chicago. Still, these were hints enough to show that gospel stepper sets were regular occurrences in Chicago.

Source: Cynthia Bean – July 29, 2013 Steppers 411 Weekly Event List

Source: Cynthia Bean – May 17, 2016 Steppers 411 Weekly Event List

Source: Cynthia Bean – January 22, 2019 Steppers 411 Weekly Event List

Ministry in the Stepping Community

Some steppers socialize, can get down on the dancefloor, and fulfill ministerial work on the stepper set. Some organizations and individuals minister by giving to the needy, helping the homeless, or providing shelter and care for the less fortunate. The Stepping community is one of the primary places I see non-profit organizations, charities, and scholarship foundations at work through events. Many of these activities happen on the set and gain support, donations, time, and money from steppers. I talked to Lisa Alexander of Project 317 and Tony Scales of The Untouchables, Inc from Chicago. They shared thoughts and views on religion and spiritual beliefs relating to the Chicago Stepping culture.

Lisa Alexander and Her Freedom to Step

Lisa Alexander was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She has been stepping for forty-five years. Her big brother, Ronald Alexander, introduced her to Chicago Stepping. She fell in love with Stepping because she believes it is fun and therapeutic. Lisa is an ordained minister, and I see her on the stepper set when I am in Chicago. Project 317 partners with Franciscan Outreach to ensure that beds are offered to homeless people each year and gifts a transitional package to help people get back on their feet.

“Stepping lifts my mood. I find joy in Stepping; it makes me feel good, gives me energy, and is a good way to exercise. I appreciate the connectivity with others and the relationships that I have developed as a result.” – Lisa A.

No passage in the Bible says, “Thou shall not dance.” However, some passages address dancing, and some principles also address dancing. It has to do with the consciousness of the person and your own personal Christian Liberty. I have a personal relationship with my Lord and Savior, and my conscience allows me to dance freely today.

He who the Son sets free is free indeed. I live in the world, but I am not of the world, so it is not what I do but how I do it that matters. I started stepping at a very young age. It was before I came to know the Lord and long before I accepted my calling. I gave up Stepping for many years, but my love for the dance never left me. Love covers a multitude of sins. I do my best to exhibit it at all times. God is Love. I try to conduct myself in a way that is worthy of my calling, decently and in order, and I am always encouraging others of the stepping community to be at peace.

What would you say to steppers who believe they must choose between stepping and their religious or spiritual beliefs?

To thine own self be true. Remember, not being who you are is identity theft. Follow the voice of the Lord. I have never attended a Gospel Stepper set. Although some of the music played at our sets, I can relate to a gospel message. For example, Anything Is Possible, If You Believe In Love, and I’m Waiting On You, to name a few favorites of mine. Yes, Chicago Stepping opens the door for my mission (witnessing is personal). My mission begins in my heart, spreading God’s love abroad. God is not confined to the four walls of the church. He is not in a box. Jesus himself went amongst all of God’s children.

Tony Scales on The Spirit’s Purpose for Music

Tony Scales remarks that gospel music is hidden and classified under many other genres of music. It’s played regularly on the stepper sets in Chicago, including the sets hosted by The Untouchables, Inc at DuSable Park on Sundays. The Untouchables, Inc executes ministry for feeding, clothing, and helping the homeless and less fortunate in the Chicagoland area. When I go to Chicago, I see Eric Lewis and Tony Scales at the Fifty Yard Line and DuSable.

The Spirit is awesome and incredible because He uses music to bring us together and gives us Happy Feet. DJs work to keep us on the floor all night at the stepper sets. There are so many feet I can’t even see the dance floor. Many gospel songs have melodies we walk to, like A Prayer by The O’Jays. That’s what we are supposed to do walk and talk with the Lord and have joy doing so.

People don’t want to mix Stepping and gospel music because they are afraid and they think they are being disrespectful to the Spirit of God. It is all in one’s upbringing. The creativity of New school gospel music has changed the mindset of the youth who want to get to know the Lord. I love music, and certain songs make me think of certain things and people.

“Music soothes the savage beast. If it makes sense, it makes amends.” – Tony S.

Activities at Chicago Stepping Weekend Events

Since 2016, Stepping has gradually spread to many cities and regions beyond Chicago. How do religious and spiritual activities and gospel music influence Stepping in other parts of the country? First, consider weekend events. At large, popular weekend events like Stepaganza and The Heritage Ball, the weekend itineraries include at least a service or a religious-based activity. In 2019, The Heritage Ball in Atlanta, GA, hosted by Good Deeds International, included an Ecumenical Service led by a Pastor. Stepaganza 2022 in St. Louis, MO, hosted by Word of Mouth Entertainment, included a Bible Class instructed by Iary Israel.

Year after year, both events include spiritual and religious activities in the programs. Cheryl “Sugar Foot” Powe, President of GDI, and Iary “Kat in the Hat” Israel, CEO of Word of Mouth Entertainment, are both from Chicago, although living in different cities now. I also talked to steppers from cities outside Chicago responsible for hosting events and stepper sets

Emerging Gospel Stepper Sets After the Pandemic

Now that I was looking for them, I began to see more flyers for other gospel sets. Emerging from the COVID pandemic, flyers promoted new gospel sets in Chicago and cities in California. On the West Coast, there were gospel night stepper sets on Fridays in Los Angeles and different sets on Sundays in Ontario and Walnut. I talked to Charlene Anders, one of the people behind the coordination and efforts for gospel stepper sets in California.