 Members of UNCW’s Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. fraternity perform their piece at the Step Show Saturday night. Photo by Casey Gahagan | The Appalachian The Council for Cultural Awareness (CCA) hosted their 5th annual spring step show. The show, titled “Nine Deadly Sins,” featured performances by six groups from North Carolina.
“The spring step show is a regional show,” Alan C. Mueller, assistant director of Student Programs said. “The fall step show is designed to feature groups from campus. This year’s spring show has groups from seven hours away.”
The art of stepping is a long-standing tradition, particularly in African-American culture.
“Step shows convey positive messages and captivate audiences. Like much African-American music and dance, step dance relies on improvisation, call and response, complex meters, propulsive rhythms and a percussive attack,” according to baylor.edu.
The step show featured 13 to 17-minute performances by Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. of UNC-Wilmington, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. of UNC-Chapel Hill and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. from Fayetteville State University.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. from UNC-Wilmington, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. of UNC-Greensboro and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. from Winston-Salem State University also performed.
“The step show is a whole bunch of people coming together to show off their ability outside of their community service,” Kendra D. Whitworth, junior criminal justice major said.
Whitworth is also the membership intake coordinator of CCA.
“Nine Deadly Sins” is a competition between the performers, with a $2,000 grand prize.
“It’s a competition because it brings people off the mountain,” Whitworth said. “It brings a diversity of love, something different to the campus.”
Appalachian State University’s own group Hip Hop Oasis (H2O) performed, but did not compete in the event.
“It was a really good step show,” Jessica N. Mayela, senior apparel and textiles major and captain of H2O, said. “Each year it gets better. I think we did great for the amount of practice we put in.”
The step show concluded with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. from Fayetteville State University winning the grand prize.
Second place honor for fraternities went to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. from UNC-Wilmington and third place went to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. of UNC-Chapel Hill.
Story: MARY ELIZABETH ROBERTSON, Intern Lifestyles Reporter
Photo: CASEY GAHAGAN, Photographer |
