Chicago stories of the Stepping dance community in the heart of the city itself. Meet people who are born in Chicago and live and step there, also from other steppers who moved from other cities to call Chicago home. Gain a different perspective on the dance to understand the vibe and culture of the Stepping community. Find out what Chicago is doing to keep the stepping culture relevant and growing. And, learn about the movements in Chicago that keep the proliferation of Stepping to other cities across the country alive.
Reading Time: 3 minutes When a family has a rich legacy in music and dance, and a respect for art, the younger generation is born into a duty and responsibility of teaching and paying it forward whether or not they know it. What someone chooses to do with this duty is determined by his/her affect, character and sensibility. Meet Tony Dow.
Reading Time: 9 minutes After this interview with Reggie Miles I started to look at Chicago Style Steppin’ differently. Mr. Miles shared a lot and I could write a book. Since our interview, I watch more than I dance when I am in Chicago and I take in a whole lot more. Thank you Tony Adway for introducing me to this Chicago icon and legend, Mr. Reggie Miles, and for making our conversation possible. I hope this moment shares an eye-opening perspective for any reader. Enjoy the interview!
Reading Time: 4 minutes I heard about Tony Adway and learned more about him through his Facebook Live show. In Part 2 of our interview I found out how that show came about, people’s opinions of him and the future of Chicago style steppin’. Here goes.
Reading Time: 5 minutes Tony Adway tells it candidly – straight no chaser about his intentions and what really matters to him. Here is Part 1 of my interview with the man behind the smile.
Reading Time: 3 minutes I had a chance to meet and talk to the legend, Reggie Miles about many things. There are many facets to his personality and so we talked for a while. I listened and learned a lot. I had to segment his feature into more than one part. Here is Part 1.
Reading Time: 2 minutes Recently some moments in Chicago reminded me of the importance of trust in steppin’ Chicago style.
Reading Time: 3 minutes This year, St Patrick’s Day was my first time going to the Fifty Yard Line Sports Bar on a Monday to groove and step to the music of the legendary DJ Sam Chatman.
Reading Time: 5 minutes I interviewed Ramon Darnell an author from Chicago who wrote the book, Human Earthquake – a story about Chicago. Steppers seeking to understand steppin’ should take the time to talk to older steppers in Chicago, do research and read the book Human Earthquake. Now the interview.
Reading Time: 4 minutes Dasen Moore, a new transplant to Chicago, moved to the windy city a little over six months ago. In my trips to Chicago I see him out all the time and I already see a change. I had to sit and talk to Dasen about his big move to Chicago.
Reading Time: 2 minutes On a weekend in Chicago sharing the dance floor with the heavy hitters, masters and stars is not unusual. Don’t be intimidated. There is room for everyone on the dance floor even when dancing with the stars.
Reading Time: 2 minutes In my Facebook post addressing the Coalition announcement on WLSC Weekend, I asked what “recognize individuals” means. At recent events and in Chicago I have received a mixed bag of reactions.
Reading Time: < 1 minute 2018 is the 28th anniversary of the World’s Largest Steppers Contest (WLSC). There is a lot of history across twenty-eight years. How much do you know about the WLSC in the history of Chicago style steppin’? Here is the first livingthe8count.com WLSC trivia crossword puzzle to test your knowledge. Good luck!
Reading Time: 2 minutes Contest season starts again in the Chicago steppin’ community. Although there are several contests in the community, to me “contest season” means getting ready for the World’s Largest Steppers Contest in September each year. For…
Reading Time: 3 minutes I am thankful to The Most High for realizing this experience for both me and my partner, Tshon. On this journey, I learned more about myself, had some unforgettable moments, faced some crucial decisions and was surprised by new fears.
Reading Time: 3 minutes I made a promise to myself to visit Chicago this year on a week when there was no World’s Largest or major event going on in the city. So said, so done. I spent five days in Chicago in the middle of March and there is so much to say about that time. During my trip, I had a chance to sit and talk with Michael “West Side Mike” Bush.
Reading Time: 4 minutes In one of the first workshops I attended, while watching me do the basic eight count my instructor asked me “what is with all the hip movement?” I said I used to do salsa so that is probably why I do that. She said, “Kill that! This is steppin’ not salsa.” Early on I struggled with doing too much too early and being over eager to make a different statement than what people wanted to see. Even now, six years later, I still feel I struggle with treading a thin line to make the dance my own. If you can relate, this article may be for you as well. It was refreshing to hear the point of view of someone who changed the game in Chicago Style Steppin’ regardless of what anyone else said or told him to do – Andre Blackwell.
Reading Time: 3 minutes In one of the first workshops I attended, while watching me do the basic eight count my instructor asked me “what is with all the hip movement?” I said I used to do salsa so that is probably why I do that. She said, “Kill that! This is steppin’ not salsa.” Early on I struggled with doing too much too early and being over eager to make a different statement than what people wanted to see. Even now, six years later, I still feel I struggle with treading a thin line to make the dance my own. If you can relate, this article may be for you as well. It was refreshing to hear the point of view of someone who changed the game in Chicago Style Steppin’ regardless of what anyone else said or told him to do – Andre Blackwell.
Reading Time: 6 minutes I went to Chicago for the 2016 World’s Largest Steppers Contest (WLSC) Weekend looking for answers. I have seen and watched videos of the prelims in different cities and read the controversial feedback on Facebook from contestants and the hoi polloi. I was both curious and excited to see how the performances would evolve to the final stage. My last time in Chicago was in 2012 for WLSC so I had some expectations but still was excited to realize the difference after four years. Who would walk away as winners with money in hand? Well, you’ll see a thorough recap on the details and results from Terrance Pratt on Chistepper.com and many of the videos of the performances on Facebook. Yet, the end results answered only twenty percent of my questions about the contest.