When I talk to my sister or friends about the next stepper event it seems a glamorous life and oh yes it is! This weekend they exclaimed, “You’re going to a ball?!” And yes, I am going to the Steppers Ball in Atlanta, Georgia and I’ll be there starting Thursday, August 25th. I haven’t been to Atlanta since the 4th of July and I am having withdrawal symptoms. My bags are almost packed and set by the front door. The Stepper’s Ball is one of the two biggest annual events hosted in Atlanta. It is a glamorous affair for steppin’ fashionistas heading to Atlanta from cities beyond the east coast to enjoy this four day weekend event.
Yours truly is very excited and can’t wait to get on the dance floor! I just picked up my outfits today and maybe one is yet on its way to the host hotel. This is my third time to Sarah Teagle’s annual Stepper’s Ball and I’ll be there to enjoy every drop of it from the Jeans and Bling on Thursday to the Heavy Hitter’s Contest on Sunday. I look forward to all the dances because at an event this grand I am guaranteed not to ever have to stay seated. Oh my poor feet. The Stepper’s Ball is also one of my few opportunities to reconnect with my friends from Chicago. They meet me half way in Atlanta.
I make a significant effort to get ready for any event – this one is no exception and probably requires the most preparation. Shoes have to be on point, outfits prepared and there is a head to toe beauty ritual. By the way, if anyone knows a good hairdresser in Atlanta, drop a comment line with a referral please. Hair is still on my list. Thank goodness for the simplicity of the dress theme this year – jeans and bling on Thursday, all black on Friday, black and white semi-formal on Saturday and shorts on Sunday. I am thankful that Sarah is keeping it simple yet upscale and fabulous. I struggled the year she had a 70’s disco theme.
I particularly look forward to this event because it is my die-hard stepper’s heavenly experience because I want to dance all weekend long. There are no 5K morning runs, skating or city tours. On the weekend schedule there’s dancing all the way through at least from what I have seen. Of course there will be time for patrons to do independent excursions and tours of the city and shop, but this weekend attraction at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia is all about steppin’ whether the main event, workshops or the contests. I love it. In addition to all the grand parties involved I am anxious to see the Atlanta WLSC pre-lims, up close and personal. I hope to see familiar faces competing to represent Atlanta. I know this city is packed with talented steppers that dance almost every day. I eagerly await to see who will take the chance to compete in a city with such talent and instructors that have been teaching for years. It was a riveting topic last week with Sarah Teagle on Talking Tea with Tika.
Sarah has a strong line up for instructors and DJ’s. Steppin’ instructors include Yvette O’Donnell, Sherry Gordon, Andre Blackwell, Tmrific, and Sarah Teagle. I will be taking a workshop of course. With six DJ’s I expect a different, ostentatious musical vibe and energy each night. It’s not an event without DJ Shorty Smooth and Rodney Mack from Detroit will be there too. Whaat?!!!!! DJ Allusion, Deejay New Wave, DJ Samsonite and probably everybody but me knew this — LC Henderson is a DJ? He is a part of the DJ line up too. I like that surprise.
With only a few days to go I hope you have your ticket and a plan to be there. If you don’t know all about this event, why don’t you? Details are on the website, www.steppersball.com. See you there!