Black Fraternities and Sororities Key to Celebrate Their Culture

Stepping is really a rhythmic performance art used by divine 9 nationally. It combines intricate footwork, foot stomps, hand movements, vocals, and handclaps. Stepping is also an expression of unity.

"When you come together in synchronized motions, you're becoming one," says Aurelius Butler, Treasurer of Alpha Phi Alpha, Mu chapter. "For us, stepping signifies brotherhood. We can't tell a brother he couldn't step. If he's a negative stepper, he's just going to have to try harder."

Stepping started out the chants and dances that slaves did to remind themselves of the homelands. You can find stepping wherever you will find African America Greek-lettered fraternities.




Stepping is definitely an age-old tradition among black fraternities and sororities. It requires intricate footwork, specialized hand movements, songs and chants. But what is it really about Stepping why these college students find so compelling? This is what they're saying:

"Dancing has always been a means of expression in African culture," Reginald Price, a fourth-year business management and marketing student, is part of Kappa Alpha Psi, said. "Over who's has evolved into stepping."

"A step can be achieved at any given time," Price said. "A designated step master views step shows using their company chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and adds his own style and flair."

"To me stepping can be a way to show what your fraternity represents through both words and satisfaction," said Marcus Bryant, a fourth-year electrical engineering student and member of Phi Beta Sigma.

"Our steps have been passed down every year through the generations of Sigmas," Bryant said.

"You're creating beauty and dance away from nothing but both you and your (sisters), which is a special thing," says Ashanti Huey, fourth-year public relations student and member of Sigma Gamma Rho. "On the other hand, this means long nights with no sleep, sweating like crazy and losing weight from the workout."

Davida Isaac, a third-year early childhood education student and person in Zeta Phi Beta sorority says, "When we step, we have been very sharp and crisp with your movements. It sounds like one beat and looks like one movement."

Mastering and performing this dance form is a traditional part of the initiation process in several African American sororities and fraternities, but stepping has lately become a popular activity for youngsters and teens.

Stepping now occurs just about everywhere. College dorms at HBCUs have teams, predominantly White fraternities and sororities may step during Greek Week. High school and youth groups step, plus some church youth groups. Furthermore, stepping is quite popular with other culturally-based fraternal organizations--Latin, Asian, and multicultural.

Whatever their ideas from the performance art, Stepping, all step downline agree that the dance unifies them and reminds them of these African roots. Because of its reliance on rhythm, it is very fascinating to look at groups of teenagers and women transferring to a single beat in unison, a reminder of a time when all African Americans shared the identical pain and heartbreak of days once they were slaves.