Reading Time: 4 minutes I did not attend the Inside Steppin’ DJ Forum in person on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. However, I watched and listened to the live broadcast on Facebook. Ambassador Kevin Nevels and Brian Forbes co-hosted. Panel guests for the forum were DJ Calvin, DJ Lady Love, and DJ Mellow Khris. The show was hosted in Chicago…
Reading Time: 4 minutes Before I understood the relevance of the World’s Largest Steppers Competition (WLSC) to the Chicago Stepping Community, I was in my home city and close by states learning my 8 basic steps and doing my dance. Despite a growing social network, I did not understand how widespread Chicago Stepping was and the fever for competition…
Reading Time: 3 minutes As a competitor, if you think like 1st place New School winner Kevin Doc Dockery, you’re already planning and practicing for WLSC 2025. Next year should be the long-awaited Masters Category and I am excited. The Masters “typically” occurs every five years. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, there was no WLSC in 2020 and The…
Reading Time: 4 minutes I was honored to be selected as a New Skool judge for the 2024 World’s Largest Steppers Competition – WLSC. Thank you Pete Frazier and to the Majestic Gents for this opportunity. I did not take this responsibility lightly. As a New Skool judge, I scored performances for not only New Skool, but also for…
Reading Time: 4 minutes When you ask me about the Sarah Teagle 25th Silver Anniversary in Atlanta, these 3 Cs come to mind – Customer Service, Class, and Contest. The weekend was about celebrating a commendable milestone in Sarah Teagle’s stepping journey but it was equally about honoring and holding on to traditions of the dance – Chicago Stepping….
Reading Time: 3 minutes I pulled up to the Fifty Yard Line at 10:30 a.m. for the WGN TV shoot in Chicago.. This production was for a feature on the nostalgia of Chicago Stepping for Larry Potash, Anchor for the WGN Morning News. This showcase would be a highlight on his history show Backstory. The instructions for participating couples…
Reading Time: 2 minutes Jannice Robertson (RIP) would crack me up every time, with, “Don’t watch me. Watch TV!” Well, how about, “Watch me ON TV!” That’s right! WGN TV Chicago wants to highlight Chicago Stepping for their history show to contribute to a piece on nostalgia. Pete Frazier posted an open casting call on Facebook for couples to…
Reading Time: 5 minutes I have celebrated my birthday in Chicago for the past five years. 2024 is my first time writing about my birthday celebration on the blog instead of on social media. Every May I spend one and a half to two weeks in Chicago dancing to celebrate a new year. It’s now a tradition I love….
Reading Time: 8 minutes It’s been a year and a half since I moved to the Atlanta Metropolitan area. Let me tell you, it has opened my eyes to some amazing aspects of this Stepping community! It’s like seeing things from a whole new perspective compared to when I used to visit regularly. Can you believe the Atlanta Stepping…
Reading Time: 7 minutes When I set out for the conversation with First Lady Maddy B Haywood of De Ja Vu I was thinking about line dancing and how it fits with Chicago Stepping culture. Our talk went meant much deeper and I discovered Maddy B’s passion for social media, her contest and travel experience with Stepping Greg and…
Reading Time: 9 minutes Odette Bell has been someone I grew with in my Chicago Stepping journey. We started in the same state, in the same community just 2 years a part in our exposure to this dance. Since knowing her, Odette has lived in Hampton Roads, Virginia, California, and now the Chicagoland area. I thought this would be…
Reading Time: 7 minutes When I first heard Lovell “DJ Vell” Ballard playing, it was somewhere in Chicago – probably at the HollaBack Thursday sets at the Grand Ballroom. I enjoyed the vibe and music, and he is one of my favorite DJs. His music was appealing and made me want to dance, but he was the most serious…
Reading Time: 7 minutes I want to make some points on the evolution of Chicago Stepping. Let’s first clearly define evolution: Evolution: any process of formation or growth; development When I think of evolution it’s not just about the dance – what I see on the wood. Evolution speaks to all of the Chicago Stepping experience. It can include…
Reading Time: 7 minutes It was a beautiful moment I won’t forget. I don’t hear a lot of people talking about each other like this on the set while they are still alive. Indeed, I want to be that woman who can dance with anyone and still make the music move me. Maybe someone will say that about me…
Reading Time: 5 minutes Continuing our highlight for Women’s History Month, here are five women who show me what the work has to be now and what the road ahead can be when we don’t quit. They are constant reminders that even when it is not easy, you must keep going. And even when opportunities may be tempting, don’t…
Reading Time: 5 minutes This week, I highlight for Women’s History Month, individuals in the stepping community who to me exemplify the influence and power of a woman. During thirteen years of learning Chicago Stepping, I have met some pretty sensational, amazing people. Women across the United States are making history right before my eyes. They are game changers,…
Reading Time: 9 minutes To celebrate Women’s Month, we want to shine the spotlight on Michele Green, a woman taking the lead in the stepping community to spread the love of Chicago Stepping to the world. I hope you did not miss the light up of our Facebook feeds last week with Michele’s photos and videos of her trip…
Reading Time: 5 minutes Do you know about all the chances to win big money in stepping contests in our community like Champions of the Dancefloor [COTDF]? When I hear steppers discuss contests and winners, usually it is about the World’s Largest Steppers Competition – WLSC. WLSC is the most popular contest for several reasons. It’s been around for…