Reading Time: 2 minutes Countdown to StyleMasters Kick Off A Weekend of Chicago Stepping in Virginia Music credit: DJ Markey G Dear Guests of Style Masters 2022 In observation of the recent spike of the Covid-19 virus and the omicron variant, we at Nyce Entertainment want to take every precaution to ensure your safety at Style Masters Chapter IV….
Reading Time: 5 minutes On the weekend videos, photos, memories, and comments on social media expressed condolences and recalled countless dance memories. One of the greatest steppers of all time passed away on December 26. Rest in Peace Stepping Legend, Ty Skippy. Tyrone “Ty Skippy” Winfield was from the Wild 100’s on the far Southside of Chicago from the…
Reading Time: 8 minutes We started out 2021 in the middle of a nationwide quarantine but oh what a comeback! This year was the opportunity for some quiet time, introspection, and then deliberate, focused, action for many people as well as myself. Although we took our time to get back to the new semblance of normalcy, a lot has…
Reading Time: 4 minutes If you’re still shopping for gifts at the umpteenth hour, here is a shortlist of gift ideas for steppers. These are unique and meaningful ideas for a friend, significant other, or family. Steppers at any level of experience can enjoy these gifts whether they have been stepping for a day, a year, a decade, or…
Reading Time: 3 minutes The week started with an early phone call and messages on Sunday about the tragic, sudden death of Brian Archibald in Chicago. R.I.H. Brian. I have witnessed the outpouring of photos and video memories of Brian from steppers, friends, and family across social media. This has been unbelievable, tough news for many in our community…
Reading Time: < 1 minute That’s the vibe we are rolling with… The Get Down: Holiday Edition. Back to it… December 5…. 4 pm….. WE – Dave Maxx and Black Cool – are providing FREE food… WE are providing the musical landscape… All we ask is that you bring positive vibes. As always… Beulah’s Baked Goods will be in the…
Reading Time: 12 minutes This interview was inspired by questions from steppers about starting stepping communities outside of Chicago – many miles away from the Midwest. I reached out to Denise and Sharvin in North Carolina for answers. Denise McRae is the founder of Capital City Steppers(CCS) in North Carolina and she shares her success story of community building….
Reading Time: 15 minutes Once I started stepping, over the years I have heard a lot about skating as it relates to stepping. Skaters who step have ridiculous flow. People step and skate to a lot of the same music. Some of the best steppers are skaters too. Wait! Was that a skate move or a stepping move? Skating,…
Reading Time: 8 minutes Chicago Stepping has connected me with people everywhere across the United States that I probably would not have met otherwise. Interesting story … my dear friend who lived in Omaha, Nebraska, Adam Yhwh (R.I.P.) introduced me through Facebook to Los Angeles Stepper, Jana Wilson. Surprisingly, Jana and I finally met in person in Atlanta, Georgia…
Reading Time: 6 minutes INSPIRED BY: A young lady new to Stepping replied after I sent her information for a Stepping instructor in her city. “I appreciate the flyer. Wondering if you can recommend some YouTube videos so I can learn the basics before I go.” Undisclosed Finding Out About Chicago Stepping in 2021 Many people I connect with…
Reading Time: 3 minutes Nationwide stepping for Halloween and the holidays. Steppers make every holiday a party and love dressing up to create beautiful memories and stepping experiences. Halloween Georgia, Illinois, and Washington get ready for Halloween and the wave of masquerade parties on deck. For those who love to dance, Chicago-Style Stepping is taking over your Halloween festivities…
Reading Time: 6 minutes My conversation with Dominique Tolliver was a chance to speak with a woman who at a very early age was recognized as a phenom in Stepping. As only a child, she was stepping and also helping to teach others to step. She has the point of view of someone originally from Chicago who has lived…
Reading Time: 8 minutes “Why are they[instructors] charging newcomers or advanced a fee to learn or better themselves in this dance? Didn’t they learn for free at sets or private parties? Is it more about the money than just providing this dance to keep it alive?” LIVINGTHE8COUNT SUBSCRIBER Right off, thank you for this question. To me, the answer…
Reading Time: 3 minutes Learning to walk has been on my stepper bucket list for quite some time. Certainly, I had some on-the-spot lessons over the years from steppers and friends while out at a party or set. Some years ago, I took a walking workshop with “Tall Rick” Weatherspoon and Charnice Simmons. Until 2021, that has been it…
Reading Time: 8 minutes In the stepping community, there are several organizations that dance and work for a cause. They help to care for and support our community in different ways. This was a chance for me to sit and talk to Terrence Martin with Infinity in Motion. His organization hosts the Black Tie Scholarship Affair in Charlotte –…
Reading Time: 4 minutes Before the review of WLSC, here is what I was looking forward to at the 2021 World’s Largest Steppers Contest: New steppers that fell in love with Stepping during the pandemic Seasoned steppers reignited and refreshed with new moves and creative dances that make me say “Wow!” Seeing Tyk Man, Kevin Doc Dockery, and Drewry…
Reading Time: 7 minutes For 2021, the WLSC Beginners Contestants seem excited and ready. Ready to take the stage and ready to take it to the bank. I enjoyed putting this together and learning about these steppers’ journey so far in this dance. Here is a brief introduction to the Beginners’ contestants before they get to the big stage….
Reading Time: 3 minutes Conversations with the older generation of steppers always keep me laughing and happy in this dance. Their stories keep me glued and curious about what was happening before, what is happening now, and what might happen next. Willie Bell shares why he fell in love with stepping and why he is still on the set…