2008 Woodie Awards
Stamping, clapping produce rhythms for dancing
The Black Student Alliance organized and co-sponsored the fifth annual show.
Ruth Brown
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: News
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"Stepping is a dance that combines the elements of military drills with contemporary jazz and hip-hop moves, as well as some singing, chanting and verbal play," Jodi Wuttke, academic coordinator of SDSU's Upward Bound and one of the organizers for the Step and Drill Show, said. "In stepping, the body takes the place of the drum: clapping and slapping of the hands against various parts of the body and stomping the feet to produce the complex rhythmic foundation for the dance."
As well as BSA, there will be five other step and drill teams coming to participate in the show. The teams performing include: Zeta Phi Beta-Tau Alpha from the University of Nebraska Omaha, Phi Beta Sigma-Alpha Alpha Delta from the University of Nebraska Omaha, Omega Psi Phi from the University of Minnesota, Kappa Alpha Psi from the University of Minnesota and the Show Stoppers from Southwest Minnesota State University.
Each group will have no less than five and no more than 12 performers on their team. Teams may consist of male or female dancers. All groups will have at least 15 minutes for their performance.
The Step and Drill Show is not a competition; it is only being held to entertain the students of SDSU. "We don't really care about competing or anything; the show is just for entertainment and fun," said Tanisha Sealey, a senior clinical laboratory science major and president of BSA, who will be dancing in the show.
The Step Show is meant to honor Black History Month because step and drill dancing is traditionally a dance preformed by the African American culture. "I think it's great that they're bringing in a little more diversity to SDSU; it sounds fun," said Chelsea Popp, a sophomore interior design major.
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