If you haven't seen a Greek step show like the one featured in the 2006 movie "Stomp the Yard" you might want to get to a St. Petersburg greek show early to get the best seat. That's because people will tell you the rhythmic moves are breathtaking and if you blink you might miss the action.

No one knows that better than the producer of the flick Will Packer Jr. He's from South St. Pete. He graduated from Florida A & M in Tallahassee in electrical engineering and says he stumbled into film making because he wanted to be an entrepreneur.

He and his best friend Rob Hardy, have accomplished that goal together by creating their own production company, Rainforest Productions. It's allowed them to work on several films.  Stomp the Yard alone he says made 60 million dollars. It's now out on DVD.

Packer lives in Atlanta now but is back in town promoting the Stomp the Bay Greek step show he's hosting Saturday night. Packer says the show will be unforgettable. "A lot of energy in the room. A lot of crowd participation. A lot of yelling and chanting and especially the stepping."

The tradition of stepping he says is nothing new. It's an art form he says. A legacy passed down for quite some time. “It's derived from the African boot dance."

With bragging rights on the line members of local Greek organizations were burning the midnight oil Friday trying to perfect every single step until it's just right. Members of Delta Sigma Theta and Kappa Alpha Psi gathered at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church at 3500 18th Avenue South to rehearse.

Sharon Wilson heads up the national Pan-Hellenic Council of St Petersburg which represents nine historically black sororities and fraternities. She says "They've worked very hard. It's not an easy task to step."

The Stomp the Bay, Greek step show, is Saturday night at 7 PM in the gym at St. Petersburg College which is at 6605 Fifth Avenue North. Tickets are 15 dollars in advance. 20 dollars at the door.

Advance tickets can be purchased at Kizmet Old School Cafe - 1101 1st. Avenue North at (727) 821-1078 or Reader's Choice Bookstore at 4301 34th Street South Suite 102 - Maxi Mall at (727) 867-3696.

Youth Exhibition Step Teams are also set to perform from Boca Ciega High School, Dunedin High School and Tampa Tech High School. Kings Highway Elementary School Drummers will also take part.

This article was provided by: Tampa Bay 10
Written by: Tammie Fields