Last night I joined a thousand or so people crammed into Roseland Ballroom to catch the Sprite Step Off, a nationwide stepping competition. Step teams from various Black fraternities and sororities are competing for $1.5 million dollars in scholarships, as well as the honor of being the nation's best step crew. For those not in the know, "stepping" is a hybrid, percussive dance form incorporating military drills, gymnastics, tap, African and Caribbean dance, and hip-hop.
This was my favorite step team of the night, Phi Beta Sigma's "No Mercy Team" from Rutger's University. To my untrained eye, this crew brought the most passion, dynamics, acrobatics, and power to the stage. And I love the homage to Africa at the end, which takes stepping back to its roots.
Congrats to all the competitors who brought the heat to Roseland. I bet the finals are going to be hype!