Thursday, February 7, 2008

Step it up

Fraternity members, groups alike put their best feet forward in step competition

by Dan Coleman | The Scene

From left, Muhammad Saahir, Amungwa Bonu, Jonathan Davenport, Derrick Howard, Jeff London, Andre White, and Tafor Bonu practice for the 24th Annual Statewide Stepdown Competition. The competition will be at the IU Auditorium Saturday. Jeremy Hogan | Herald-Times

When the IU Auditorium lights drop on the brothers of the Epsilon Iota Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma and the first foot stomps the stage, it will be the end of a journey 365 days in the making. For the first time in their collegiate careers, they will enter the 24th Annual Phi Beta Sigma Indiana Statewide Stepdown Competition for the first time not as combatants but as champions.

The Stepdown is a competition featuring step lines from the across the state representing the nine members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council of historically black fraternities and sororities. To the uninitiated, stepping is a rhythmic and percussive dance traditionally performed by a group referred to as a line. Lines are judged not only on their creativity and performance, but also on their ability to win the crowd.

The Phi Beta Sigma Indiana Statewide Stepdown is broken down into two competitions, pitting the various houses against each other and the various chapters of Phi Beta Sigma against each other for bragging rights and the honor of hosting the competition.

Amungwa Bonu does step dancing in advance of the show during a recent practice session at the HPER. Jeremy Hogan | Herald-Times

“We’re all Phi Beta Sigma chapters from around the state,” said Brandon Libuano, a political science junior and chapter secretary. “But (it’s) just the pride of being able to be sort of the best chapter in the state.”

The 24th annual Phi Beta Sigma Indiana Statewide Stepdown Competition takes place this Saturday at the IU Auditorium beginning at 7 p.m. This year’s competition features six step teams and two hip-hop dance teams and is judged by a panel of Greek members unaffiliated with any of the chapters stepping.

The brothers of the Epsilon Iota Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma have been working toward Saturday night ever since they hoisted the trophy last year in Terre Haute. Perfecting their 12-14 minute routine has been a labor of love involving long hours in the HPER, mastering the intricate steps needed to retain their title.

“Blood, sweat and tears. No lie,” said Andre White, a business senior and chapter president. “When crunch time comes, it’s 4 or 5 hours a day, 5 to 6 days a week. Until it’s perfect, basically.”

Muhammad Saahir, left, goes through some moves with his teammates. Jeremy Hogan | Herald-Times

This year’s competition is the end of an era for the nine-man line. They came from disparate hometowns in Ohio and Indiana and found a sense of brotherhood in Phi Beta Sigma. The line offered them a further bond and a chance to test themselves mentally and physically.

“I thought it was a challenge because honestly, I didn’t have any rhythm or anything, so I took this as a personal challenge,” Libuano said.

Now the line of upperclassmen that has remained largely intact after last year’s triumph is taking to the stage for the last time before venturing out into the real world.

“It’s our last time being able to do something like this in life, really,” said Muhammad Saahir, an elementary education senior and chapter parliamentarian. “You’re not going to be in the business world with people cheering for you.”

Jonathan Davenport watches Tafor Bonu, center, and Amungwa Bonu, practice a movement in step dancing. Jeremy Hogan | Herald-Times

The Stepdown is hosted by Chicago DJ and “Barbershop” alum Leon Rodgers and is the kickoff to what is known as Statewide Weekend. The competition is followed by an afterparty at the Student Recreational Sports Center and an informational on Sunday, allowing men interested in becoming Phi Beta Sigma brothers to learn about the organization. As much as Statewide Weekend is a celebration, it is also a chance for the community at-large to experience and school themselves on Phi Beta Sigma and the other members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

“This is not just for the African American community. People look at the African American Greek organizations and have the stereotype, have this prejudged opinion that if you’re a Greek or you’re a Sigma you step or you’re in a line,” said Tafor Bonu, a biology junior and chapter social chair. “But there’s a lot more to that, and basically for other fraternities and sororities … everybody should just come out to show and learn a little bit about not just Phi Beta Sigma, but us minorities on campus.”

• WHAT: The 24th annual Phi Beta Sigma Statewide Stepdown

• WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday

• WHERE: IU Auditorium

• HOW MUCH: Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 day of show, and are available at the IU Auditorium box office and ticketmaster.com.

• INFO: www.indiana.edu/~pbsei.

• NOTE: This show (the comedy in particular) is for mature audiences.

What is step?

Stepping is a rhythmic and percussive dance traditionally performed by a line of dancers. Judging is based on creativity, skill and winning the crowd.From Wikipedia: “an African American tradition … elaborate synchronized group routines … step shows incorporate cheerleading, military and drill-team moves, especially the call-and-response element.”

Other step showcases

• Step Afrika!, founded in 1994, will perform at 7 p.m. Monday in the IMU Alumni Hall. A collaborative project between young artists from the U.S. and the South-Africa based Soweto Dance Theatre, the group conducts residencies, master classes and performances at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Washington Performing Arts Society and the Smithsonian Institution.

• The Little 500 Step Down step-show and competition, also seen at the IU Auditorium, has been a part of festivities for more than three decades.

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