Kristin Eberts / Picture Editor / ke277604@ohiou.edu

Sorority Delta Sigma Theta, Epsilon Iota Chapter at Ohio University, practices step dancing Thursday, April 17 in Baker University Center. Tonight’s Greek Step Show will give students to show off their step dancing skills.

Hollywood movies like Stomp the Yard give the public a glimpse of the hand-slapping, foot-stomping Black Greek organizations that participate in step — a form of dance that uses parts of the body to make a beat.

Tonight when the Ohio University National Panhellenic Council presents the annual Greek Step Show, students will get a chance to look at stepping beyond what they see at the movies.

Two black fraternities and two black sororities will compete for a cash prize. A fraternity from the University of Cincinnati and two others from the Ohio State University will put on a separate step performance.

“Greeks step as a way to demonstrate our unification, and show a different aspect of Greek life,” said Horace Lee, president of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Each fraternity and sorority brings different approaches to stepping, from dancing in a militaristic style to using props such as swords or canes.

“The personality of an organization is exemplified in their performance,” said Cherrelle Turner, OU senior and president of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

The step show gives students an opportunity not only to showcase their dance abilities, but also to show allegiance for their sorority or fraternity they represent, said Sidney Scott, president of OU’s National Panhellenic Council.

Stepping originated in South Africa when mine workers were given “gum” boots because they were becoming sick from oppressive working conditions. They would step in these boots rhythmically to communicate with one another.

“It’s the whole idea of using the body as a percussive instrument,” said Travis Gatling, an associate professor of dance at OU. “Padding the chest, stomping the feet, and the use of vocals are used to create this system of complex rhythms with the body.”

Stepping was brought to America during the slave trade and it crossed into mainstream culture and Black Greek life.

“It started as a tie to our heritage, also Black Greeks were trying to showcase their organization, so the combination of the two came together,” Scott said.