Schreiner University Sorority To Bring Stepping To Kerrville Sept. 21

It's more than rhythm. It's more than dancing. It's more than music. It's stepping. While Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines step as “to move by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere, or by moving each foot in succession,” the kind of stepping that’s coming to town involves much more than just moving your feet. Schreiner University will welcome an Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter from San Antonio to Step Out on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 7:00 pm in Dietert Auditorium on the Schreiner Campus.  This event, sponsored by the Schreiner University Student Activity Board, is free and open to the public.

In Elizabeth Khalil's article “Steppin' Out,” Rashid Darden says that “stepping incorporates cheerleading, military, and drill-team moves, especially the call-and-response element inherent in those forms. That aspect is not only important to the energy of stepping, but to the cultural history to which stepping provides a link.”

African American Greek fraternities and sororities originally helped to develop the popularity of the step shows, which are spreading across the country and around the world. From campus organizations and church groups to high schools and local communities, more and more people are becoming involved in stepping.

As the popularity of step shows continues to grow, so do the crowds. Events such as the Annual East Coast Step Show attract thousands of spectators—in 2003, approximately 6,000 people attended to cheer on the 15 competitors. Even junior high and high school step shows draw exceptional crowds.

Many of the step show organizations and competitions follow in the footsteps of the African American Greek organizations; they not only preserve and promote their cultural history, but also realize the importance of making a difference in their communities. Sometimes, a portion of proceeds from the step shows goes to build scholarship funds or goes to help the communities. Other Greek organizations help to coordinate step competitions in middle and high schools, giving the younger generations an opportunity to experience what stepping is all about. While step shows are often viewed as entertainment or an extracurricular activity, they provide much more than entertainment to the people involved.

So bring your feet and step on out to Schreiner University for this explosive event. For more information on this and other upcoming events, please contact Jennifer M. Hudson-Velazquez at jmhudson@schreiner.edu or call 830-792-7283.