The more I go to Chicago, the more I want to learn about Original Old School Stepping. When I competed in the Old School category in 2019 World’s Largest, I hardly knew enough – if anything at all – about Old School. I mentioned in another post the background comments in the video of my 2019 prelim performance. I heard “That’s not old school.” Gulp! After that feedback, I said, “Well, let me not do that again until I know what I am signing up for.”
I sought out Old School in the best place to do so – Chicago. To explain something, Old School music is what drew me to and kept me steppin’. When I was just starting to learn to step in Virginia, on the set and in classes were mostly where I heard real Old School music all the time. I mostly enjoyed listening to the songs my Mom and Dad used to play at home as a child. However, I learned to step on the 8-count as an adult. I am a New School stepper with an Old School soul.
I believe some steppers who have not been to Chicago or who don’t live in the Midwest, aren’t very exposed to Original Old School Steppin’. Some steppers may not even know exactly what it is. At East of the Ryan and the Grand Ballroom in Chicago, I watched Old School Steppin’ for a long time in awe. Chicago was the first place I saw Original Steppin’ except for watching videos on YouTube.
Most steppin’ instruction beyond the Midwest focuses on teaching New School and that is what instructors primarily teach, promote, and show new steppers. Now, yes, there are definitely Old School steppers and instructors from Chicago who live outside of Illinois like Tony Dow, Ronnie Burnett, Cheryl Powe, and Ted Williams – to name a few. However, most teaching outside of Chicago is on the 8-count fundamentals of New School.
What is Old School Steppin’?
I relied on published information to provide an answer. On steppershistory.org, J. Davney defines Old School or Old Skool as:
“Bopping changed to stepping in the early 70’s. There have been several forms of stepping in the early 70’s, if you can go back and remember how to Bop and how to do other forms of Steppin then you are Old School or Old Skool. Some would say if you have been steppin over 25 years That’s Old School.”
In the 2017 World’s Largest Contest Rules the Original Old Skool Category guidelines state:
“Original Steppers should be masters of all the basic elements of the dance. The emphasis in this category will be placed on fancy footwork, pulling the female dance partner in close while Steppin’, and overall style and rhythm. Turns are accepted but dips and drops will result in deductions in this category. Timing, Style, Footwork, Close Dancing, and Slow Bopping are all elements of original style dancing. Routines will be frowned upon in the Original Category. The Original Category will be judged by dancers with 25 years of experience or more.”
When I hear Old School, I think about the category guidelines. Is this a good definition? With time, the 25-year reference should change. On Facebook and in other conversations steppers have debated whether music from 25 years ago – 1996 – is considered Old School or New School. Many steppers define Old School music to be from the pre-disco era – the 1970’s and earlier. Is being Old School based on the year a song is produced and/or how long someone has been stepping? That’s a debate.
How Steppers Learn Old School in 2021
Through privates, dancing, and watching on sets I learned more about Original Old School. I dance with Old School steppers and boppers every chance I get. I love going to Old School sets in Chicago like DJ Sam Chatman’s Monday Night at the 50 Yard Line. And, for an Old School Stepper weekend event, Stepaganza in St. Louis is it for me!
Instructors in Chicago still teach Old School and may teach the six-count (a basis for Old School) or no-count. Old School workshops happen at some weekend events across the United States, but those are few and far in between. A stepper only visiting Chicago classes every now and may have to seek out the Tony Dow’s and Cheryl Powe’s in other states.
Here is a surprise for some steppers. When teaching Chicago Steppin’ to new steppers even on the 8-count, instructors should start instructions for beginners with the basic elements of Old School. If you look at the World’s Largest Contest rules for the Beginners category the guidelines are the same as Original Old School. The right instruction starts with Original Old School Steppin.
Old School Dancers Who Understand the 8-Count and New School Steppers Who Know Old School
It is critical for someone who really wants to learn Old School to find the right translator. There are plenty of New School instructors that don’t know Old School well enough to teach it. Also, there are Old Schoolers that know boppin’ and steppin’ well but find it difficult to teach a stepper who only understands the dance based on a count.
Translators I know, like Tony Dow and Charnice Simmons, are dancers that know Old School, can Bop, and understand both sides of dance and understand fully the concept of the 8-count. Instructors like Tony and Charnice can interpret and translate from the 8-count to Old School and vice-versa. They know how to help steppers be dancers. Is Old School and New School even compatible? That’s another debate.
Imagine, at a private or class, the instructor tells the class, “I don’t do numbers. You should feel the music and feel the beat.” Someone who learned everything about Steppin’ based on the 8-count might feel like the rug was ripped right out from under them. Some can handle this and adapt. Some cannot. This is another debate. At times I have also seen classes where Old School instructors partner with someone who knows the 8-count to help translate. Learning that way can be challenging.
Is Old School Stepping Here to Stay?
Some steppers worry that Old School will fade away completely. I am guessing the “average” Old School stepper/bopper is 60-65 years old. Especially as older steppers retire from the dance or pass away, we risk erasing and forgetting the legacy and knowing the true roots of stepping. But, they say…
“There is nothing new under the sun except what has been forgotten.”
Anonymous
A lot of Old Schoolers love stepping the way they learned it and dance Old School today. They have not changed or evolved their dance for New School’s sake. Keeping the Old School swag – dancing to a beat they can feel, being cool and laid back with it, and floating – keeps a lot of steppers happy. However, other Old Schoolers learn New School, dance with newer steppers and embrace the new trends. Every stepper – new and old – never stops learning.
LC Henderson explained to me his appreciation of Old School like this. “You may always bring a laptop, but if it fails, you want to have a typewriter to fall back on. What’s new appreciates what’s old. That’s the bottom line.”
Sometimes a new idea isn’t new. I know steppers already tapping into Old School especially when it comes to entering the World’s Largest. New School contestants sometimes learn and focus on Old School to prepare for the contest.
Read this carefully. New School contestants may be learning Old School techniques and moves to add to their New School performances. This strategy may score points for originality and creativity. Look for hints of this in New School contest performances for 2021. I believe Old School is hanging on strong. It will be a part of Steppin’ for a long time to come but applied in different ways. New School steppers appreciate Old School and are willing to learn, because to some of us – old is new.
Is Old School Stepping Told or Sold?
An Old School stepper told me that she doesn’t teach classes to charge money to teach anyone steppin’ because, for her, steppin’ was a gift. She learned it for free. I know more than one person feels this way. Many Old School steppers in Chicago that can teach, don’t teach. Some don’t even leave Chicago.
It is possible to find Old School steppers that will teach steppers for free. There are also regular classes in Chicago to learn Old School. Many New School instructors in Chicago will teach Old School but only in privates because they focus primarily on New School in class settings.
If you know and connect with the right people, Old School may be “told.” If you ask the right practicing instructor who is a good translator, Old School may be “sold.”
A Conversation with an Old School Stepper
An assignment from Charnice Simmons gave me the chance to connect with and learn more about an Old School Stepper who I’ve admired from afar for a long time – Roxie McKinney. I’d like to introduce her to steppers who may have never even heard her name before. Here is the interview.
I visit Chicago to learn everything I can about steppin’. The journey and experience so far have opened my eyes to some of the limits and questions for out-of-towners like me. There is a depth, history, and understanding of Chicago Steppin’ that steppers can only readily find and see in Chicago.
Image Credits: Google – StayHappening.com – Noble Lounge, Fodors Travel Guide
