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: 5 minutes 2020 changed the lives of many people including Feo Duncan with FitWitFeo. Historians should recognize and record 2020 as not only the year of a major health crisis but as a year of cleverness and imagination. When it seemed that the world was shutting down, many people became more resourceful and learned to do things…
Reading Time: 6 minutes There are great steppers coming out of other midwest cities besides Chicago. Whenever I see April Simmons dancing she is often leading and after her winning performance at the 2017 Detroit White Party I thought her perspective on the ladies’ lead would be a good one to share.
Reading Time: 8 minutes Choc James piqued my interest because his name is popular on Facebook whether in videos, at an event, on a flyer, or his name is a controversial part of a group conversation. And, he is everywhere. I tried to find out more about the mystique of this man and his love for steppin’ Chicago style.
Reading Time: 3 minutes Antoine”Tony” Butler’s daily questions on Facebook have stimulated controversy, nostalgia and conversation. Tony you have caused quite a stir on social media with your questions and I’m curious what happened, what’s your motive and where do you think this will take us as a community? Let’s talk – real talk!
Reading Time: 6 minutes Walter Lane is from Apopka, Florida. He served 28 years in the military retiring as Command Sergeant Major. While in Detroit working for the Detroit News, he saw Chicago Style Steppin’. He returned to Florida in 1995 but got his chance to really focus on steppin’ in 2008 and has been steppin’ for 9 years. He has been instructing since 2010. As a club manager in the military and growing up in a club because his father was a club owner, Walter knew about entrepreneurship, running a club, and how to create an atmosphere for successful social events. He offers classes for free and as a community activity to provide a social outlet for adults where grown folks can go out and have a good time. His organization, Florida Steppers International, has outgrown any organization in the state of Florida and caters to a grown folks audience with a classy event atmosphere. Walter aspires to open a studio where he can teach children to step because he believes teaching our youth to step can prevent them from getting in gangs and other trouble.
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chaundra “Shooz” Satchell is from Chicago and now lives in Hampton, Virginia. Although she grew up between Gary and Chicago surrounded by Chicago Style Steppin’, she learned to step right here in Virginia at Langley Air Force Base with Timothy Wilson. But, her steppin’ granddad is LC Henderson. Chaundra has been steppin’ for almost ten years, instructing for about six years and she is the President of Virginia Steppers Education Fund. She is known as a very direct instructor but I can feel her passion for the dance so charge her Debbie Allen persona in class to her heart not her head. You can tell by her actions and history in the community that she wants this dance to flourish for years to come, but earnestly believes this dance won’t flourish without the young people – especially the men. Chaundra admits she would compete at the World’s Largest Stepper Contest one day but she cannot find a partner locally. So, her question is, “Men, what is the magic to keep you in this dance? Help a sister out!”
Reading Time: < 1 minute Tonya Foreman is an instructor in Eastern North Carolina. She has been in the health and fitness industry for 26 years and enjoys different genres of music and dance. She is the owner of the Mochas Dance Studio in Greenville, NC. Tonya considers stepping as her passion and believes that music brings people together and promotes understanding.