steppin' FAQs
The National Chicago Style Steppers Day celebration team is coordinating an annual group meet in multiple cities simultaneously on the second Saturday of August. It is the year to recognize its sixth year since its inception by the late Markie Bee.
The National Chicago Style Steppers Day event idea grew from the thought based on the idea that there wasn't a day when all people who step could celebrate the dance they love and the people who make up the ever-growing community where ever they are across the United States, thus taking it beyond the limits of Facebook, community groups or other webpages.
The day creates a unique opportunity for all Chicago-style steppers across the country to show unity in the name of the dance for the entire nation to see. It also gives steppers the opportunity to invite the non-stepping public to join in and learn the dance as well.
It doesn't matter if you are a new stepper or a very experienced stepper; a stepper who dances to a six-count, eight-count, or no-count at all; and you don't even have to be a stepper to celebrate this day with us.
Chicago steppers broadcasting their events will be observed globally. Participants are asked to use modern technology via Laptops or smartphones to upload photos or videos from their event. Don't forget your hashtag:
People get really uptight when they discover that the Hustlers, Pimps, Playas, and other underworld people created this dance. You had the street and square kids who couldn’t come out of the house as much as we did.
That’s why this dance will never be given its true props because, on a national level…people can’t believe this level of creativity came out of the streets when it comes to this dance. Nobody from the 70s can dispute what I’m about to say.
In the dance…they call it …” Man on Man,” which I don’t care for that term, but you would have two sets of guys going against each other. Somewhere, signals will be given and taken by one of them. If I grabbed your wrists…I led. That was the signal. If you grabbed mine…you led.
Your Legends were Ice Ray and Ice Rob…Derrick Nute, who was 13 years old…Sarg, Womack, Butch, Dirk Parker, Jerry Clark, Fred Astaire (Brian), Gene, and Barry. Westside Mike is not a good dancer…he’s a GREAT dancer! Having showmanship allowed him to be innovative with his dance. One time…Westside put on a pair of female high-heeled shoes and got down in those heels proving that anything can be done in heels. He is a monster when he’s feeling good and in that zone. I want Rich to be a hybrid able to mix the two. The footwork needs to be the star of the dance, not the number of spins you can give a woman.
and those females… Kathleen "Lady Tabu" Wiggins, Jannice Robertson, the late great Damita Collins, Gena Johnson (Speedy), and Lynn (China Doll). Man…you can throw anything at those women, and they stay with you during the whole dance. That’s following! There aren’t a lot of ladies out here that can do that because they are too busy countin'.
from Josiah Burt, a pillar or a brick in the foundation of Steppin.