The Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity took center stage with the aid of crutches, wheelchairs and a walker.
The men, dressed in hospital gowns and wearing neck braces, spun around in the chairs and used the crutches to create a beat. Before the end of their routine, team members were high stepping and clapping in sync at a fast pace.
The fraternity from Temple University used the wheelchairs and a walker as props during their routine Saturday night at the Crown Coliseum. The Kappas competed for the title of best step team against 12 other teams at the 11th annual East Coast Step Show.
The show featured fraternities and sororities from Pennsylvania to Georgia. The teams competed for $10,000 in prizes.
Laveesha Allen of Richmond, Va., said she was impressed with the Kappa’s performance, which included acrobatic tricks.
“The Kappas have done their thing so far,” she said.
About 6,000 people attended the annual event, which has grown from its humble beginning at the Capel Arena at Fayetteville State University.
Richard Smith, organizer of the show, said this year’s competition had more teams than in the past and the performances were top-notch.
The teams were creative with their performances — one routine was centered around the movie “American Gangster” and another team used coffins in its routine.
“The creativity was just tremendous,” Smith said. “... I think the crowd really enjoyed the show.”
The East Coast Step Show has become the premier step show, he said.
The night ended with a performance by R&B artist Tiffany Evans.
The top three finishers in the sorority competition were Delta Sigma Theta from UNC-Charlotte, Alpha Kappa Alpha from Fayetteville State University and Alpha Kappa Alpha from Duke University.
The top three in the fraternity competition were Iota Phi Theta from Morgan State University, Alpha Phi Alpha from South Carolina State University and Kappa Alpha Psi of Temple University.
Steppers use their bodies as an instrument to produce rhythms and sounds. They incorporate dance and acrobatic moves in their routines.
Stepping roots can be traced back to African and Caribbean dance. Black fraternities and sororities began stepping in the mid-1900s.
Lauren Hall and 12 other students from South Carolina State University danced in their seats before the show. The group made the three-hour drive to cheer on Alpha Phi Alpha.
“This is a great way to come out and have fun,” Hall said. “I like the way we all come together whether you are Greek, non-Greek, young or old.”
Terri Cooper of Fayetteville attended the show with her 9-year-old son, Emmanuel.
Although the fraternities and sororities are good, some of the younger teams gave them a run for their money, she said.
“Some of the high schools are actually better than the college level,” Cooper said.
The show opened with Lewis Chapel Middle School’s step team. Several male members of the team dressed in “Hammer” pants and danced to “U Can’t Touch This.”
Later, the female members of the group walked out dressed in red and wearing black hoods over their heads. The girls performed a high energy routine, which included a human jump-rope and a team member walking on the backs of the other steppers.
Emmanuel Cooper said the step show is fun and exciting.
“I look forward to the competition and a lot of intensity and exciting performances,” Emmanuel Cooper said.
The Step Show gets better each year, said J.D. Robinson of Fort Bragg.
“It is a family-oriented step show,” he said. “That is what I like about it. All walks of life are here from the East Coast, West Coast, North and South. It’s a good draw.”
This article was provided by: Fayetteville State University
Written by: Venita Jenkins
