Reading Time: 7 minutes Going to and learning in Donnie Davis’ class has been integral to my stepping journey. I have never lived in Chicago, but Donnie Davis’ class is where I go every so often to be in a class setting. It is the place for me to level set with Chicago, socialize, and meet other dancers who…
Reading Time: 7 minutes Whenever Pete Frazier announces the Walkers Category at any contest, he speaks directly to me. A hit dog does hollar. He says, “If you learn this dance called stepping, you must learn how to walk. That is a part of the original part of Chicago Stepping.” “Ouch!” I say every time. I am learning to…
Reading Time: 12 minutes INSPIRED BY: CHECKING ON VIRGINIA Although relocated from Virginia, I still keep a pulse on what is happening in the community where I discovered stepping and where I first met Tango Ernest. The latest, greatest news I heard was that Ernest was back in Virginia, fresh out of Chicago. It is fascinating to reconnect with…
Reading Time: 7 minutes INSPIRED BY: HONORING THE ORIGINAL IN BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2023 When it comes to Original Stepping in the lounges and on the dance floor today, Josiah is one of the first people I think of. If we dance, I can’t watch his feet. I have to listen to the music. Where is his count? Nowhere….
Reading Time: 12 minutes We continue the Drewry “Drew” Alexander interview with part 2 to focus on the men and talk about community building in Chicago Stepping with Smoothtivity. This interview became a different type of conversation. For a minute, I thought Drew was about to flip the script and start interviewing me. I enjoyed it. Most interesting was…
Reading Time: 10 minutes The best part of Chicago Stepping to me is that it can be a lifelong hobby. No matter when you start stepping you can continue to learn and grow for decades. If you are someone who is fortunate to learn Chicago Stepping as a child you may step for forty-plus years like many of the…
Reading Time: 13 minutes Over years of conversations, I understand that steppers have different opinions and feelings towards the proliferation of Chicago Stepping. People are worried, joyful, excited, opportunistic, regretful, and enthusiastic. Steppers all react differently when we talk about Chicago Stepping in communities outside of Chicago. Inquisitively, I talked to Dave Maxx – one of the instructors from…
Reading Time: 12 minutes Introducing Gina Ellis Gina Ellis was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. After graduation from Eastern Michigan University where she was a Physical Education Major, Gina moved to New York. She knew she wanted to teach dance, but being on the gymnastics team in college took her away from dance. Her move to New York…
Reading Time: 4 minutes Finally, spring is almost here and the world is ready to dance. We are jumping with excitement because we’re getting back on the wood! It looks like slowly but surely we may see glimpses of the light at the end of the tunnel for COVID. Many instructors across the United States have restarted Chicago stepping…
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 The general sentiment I heard from all directions on the Indiana contest performances was that everyone looked and danced the same. In the spirit of the 4th of July, find independence in your dance.
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ladies, have you ever been caught bending down, stooping, ducking or bowing in the middle of a turn? I have. This etiquette is probably more of a reminder for myself than for anyone else.
Reading Time: 3 minutes Often new steppers ask me “Sonji, when should I start going to workshops?” or “Is it too early for me to start taking privates?” From my experience, there is no “right” answer to either question. From my eyes, every new stepper should have enough information and context to make a good decision on when it is time to try something new.
Reading Time: 3 minutes Sometimes the struggle to teach and learn to step Chicago Style rests with the paradigms and cultural differences that shape how we look at what is right in front of us. Two people can look at the same video of two steppers dancing and see it differently – walking away with different perceptions. Isn’t that the way it is with looking at any art? And, steppin’ Chicago style is an art.
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: 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: 2 minutes My first guest blogger, Tyrone “Too Tall T” Blackwell, in Atlanta, Georgia shares his story about his first steps.
Reading Time: 2 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.