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 where you can find the dance, the expressions of it, and other nuances. Thinking of it in that three-fold way, so much has changed in the fifteen years since I started learning to step in 2011. Evolution is often not a rapid, recognizable change. It can be a slow process that etches away at what we recognize at any given point in time. Bat your eye, and years later, “Whoa, what happened?!”
Evolution is intentional and unintentional – as a course of nature. In the usual course of any evolution – forming, storming, and norming – we fear bastardization of anything we love and are familiar with. However, know that change can bring about new beauty and of course, it depends on the eye of the beholder. Let me explain.
Method and Means of Instruction
We debate how people use the count to teach someone how to step and its impact on flow and mechanics of natural body movement in Chicago Stepping. Some learned with no count or variations of different counts. Today’s 8-count, as we know it, makes instruction portable to teach in places faraway from Chicago and even Ghana. It’s a comprehensive way for some people to understand the foundation of the dance and even to grasp the concept.
Now that we are dancing, many steppers are focused on losing the count to smooth out mechanics and dance the way that elders and earlier generations do. When we were quarantined, virtual classes were in effect and remain so today. At some point, I am certain several of us thought teaching stepping online was not feasible. This is evolution in instruction. And, you can learn how to step in several places now from “good” instructors” who learned from Chicago.
Where We Find Chicago Stepping
The Stepping community has proliferated outside of Chicago. As promised, we finished and launched our new Communities page on livingthe8count.com that shows our representation for Chicago Stepping by state for social groups, steppers sets and weekly events. Based on the research, there are 33 states that have some kind of representation of Chicago Stepping. This dance is found in a far and wide perimeter from Chicago. What a change!
Places Where We Step
We can take a long walk down memory lane of the places and spaces we have been to step. Some have been closed. Some have been remodeled or renamed. This is a trend that I daresay is a part of the fabric of Chicago’s culture. I used to go to The Times, the East of the Ryan (formerly Perv’s House) and Someplace Else. They have all closed. Mr Gs has closed although I don’t remember experiencing it firsthand. The Dorchester closed, remodeled, and reopened under a new name. The new Visions without the elevated dance floor in the center was previously the Universal Entertainment Center. Did you know that dance floor was once a boxing ring?
In places like Detroit, I used to step at Firewater until it closed. I remember going to Harlem Knights in Atlanta for Ms. Mary’s TSWGA First Saturday Set but the location changed a long time ago. I am sure many of you can name more than just a few of these circumstances. The turnover of places where we step regularly is even higher in some cities until communities can discover and lock in a dedicated space for steppers like Ellery’s in Atlanta, GA. This is evolution – the storming part of it.
People on the Set
As life happens, people come and go on the set. After continuous trips to Chicago I watched the evolution on the set because people seemed to disappear for months and then pop back up or not at all. I observed that during winter months, different faces pop in that I don’t see throughout the year. I learned that many are into outside activities and when it gets cold, they switch to stepping for enjoyment and entertainment. When it gets warm, they are gone again. Winter stepping in Chicago is a whole other ballgame to me and if you have not experienced it, you should. Steppers also leave for various reasons. The people change and so does the dance.
Contest Evolution in the World’s Largest Steppers Competition – WLSC
The most obvious change over time in the WLSC has been the evolution of contest categories for different reasons. They no longer do contests by age groups. Freestyle is no longer a category. 2012 was the last year of the Out of Towner category. At times, an honorary category is included as was done in honor for the legend, Ty Skippy. At some point, the Majestic Gents started hosting WLSC Prelims outside of Chicago and the spread is growing from the east coast to the west coast. How the dance looks on stage and what contestants wear look very different despite maintaining some of the same categories for years. The WLSC is a key indicator of change. Just watch some of the videos of contest performances.
Weekend Events and Social Groups
Promoters, Contest Sponsors, and Social Groups are contentious about owning given weekends any year because the event business has become very competitive and has grown – significantly. The fan fair to entice steppers and regularity of weekend steppers events are signs of evolution. I think we are norming in this aspect as event promoters respect dates or weekends for the most part, but I predict there will be an upset soon to what we see.
The Image and Marketing for Chicago Stepping
Many times in my early years of stepping, I heard people say Stepping is an old people’s dance. What we market intentionally on social media is contrary to that statement. Generally, the marketing represents a medley of all ages enjoying this dance together. I believe that after a formal introduction to Stepping through class or conversation, people soon realize they have choices of where to go to find the crowd they want to be with in the stepping community. Stepping remains appealing with variety, and now to a wider audience and age group.
Our community media publishers and influencers have evolved. We see shifts in who is involved, how we present Stepping, how we talk about it, and our methods of engaging with our audience. Inside Steppin’ back in the 1990s was not the same Inside Steppin’ of today. However, I glean advice from those in business for a long time to understand things. In certain places you still see traditional flyers handed out for a set, a class, or an event, but there is primarily digital marketing with flyers, video and rich media to promote and entice steppers. There is a sophisticated presence in alot of our marketing for the weekend events with cool imagery and less words. Then, ticket sales happen online instead of purchasing with cash and getting a ticket in hand. Technology has equipped us to create more convenience and speed for what steppers are looking for.
What Happened to the Music and the Dance
After all that, I still haven’t talked about the music. I haven’t even talked about my dance or anyone else’s. Do you see how all the environment elements play into what we see happening to Stepping? I wanted to share this perspective and paint the kaleidoscope of Stepping – the continually changing pattern of shapes and colors. The parts that make up the whole are changing, and in turn, change the whole.
Coincidence of Evolution
There is nothing new under the sun.
When I spoke to DJ Sam Chatman this week we talked in more detail about The Dungeon. He started The Dungeon parties in 1974 as high school parties to provide a place for the younger generation to step. They were too young for the adult parties and also danced differently than their parents and grandparents. The high school parties were held separate from the adult stepper sets because these young steppers were under the 21 years of age. High school parties were from 6 p.m. to midnight on Sundays.
When the majority of high school steppers turned 21, the parties changed and moved to Fridays, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. I see a similar thing happening today. It’s just a different age group with the same concept in a different time. Loving and learning in a different space. We’re all adults of different generations instead of high schoolers.
I want to shout out The 70s Group who met and originated from The Dungeon in 1974 – this year is their 50th Anniversary of friendship and family. Wow!
Being a Part of the Solution
What we can do to respect the heritage is know it first. We have launched our new website for livingthe8count.com with streamlined and new information. New pages you will find include:
- Communities. Shares what events, sets, and social groups exist by state
- Contests. Shares information about upcoming contests.
- Instructor Referrals. Shows my specific list of instructor referrals that I have learned from or learned with firsthand.
- Music. Features the Artists that make our music, the DJs that play the music, and a list of 78 songs for steppers
Please visit the website and let us know your feedback. We are still working on the update for the Evolution Section and Fashion. I have thirteen interviews to do, to complete the work for Evolution. It is exciting and daunting at the same time for the work ahead. I will announce when these two updates and launches happen. And the dialogue continues to help us see the forest from the trees as our community and the dance develops.
