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The Steppers Beat News and Opinion

[9/23/2008 SteppersUSA News]
Contest Originality
By Markie Bee
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Yesterday was an extremely busy news day (just like the day after every contest is) and before I start my regularly scheduled column I want to make sure a few things are clear... Just between you and I. Every contest I have ever been to started late. I mentioned that in this column during the WLSC semi-finals and before that after the Club D'Elegance Contest. It's a non- issue. Oh and that "controversy about the beginners category" is also a non-issue. No one has said a word about the amount of time the previous years winner had been stepping, and after all of the controversy a few years ago about the "white guy from Milwaukee" winning, no one mentioned he was in contests prior to the WLSC. Like Joe Biden said, "Remember kids quips behind your back when you were young? What do you talk about when you have nothing to say." The fact of the matter is this contest ran really well and Pete Frazier is a genius. The contest ran late and all beginners are not virgins, so what! Let's look at the silver lining in the cloud. ---End of Markie Bee's rant!--
One thing that struck me while on the floor taking the photos of the contest (while people in the audience were making videos with their digital cameras and cell phones) one thing kept running through my mind... How original is their dance (I don't multi-task well)? There was one couple in particular that comes to mind in retrospect with 20/20 hindsight vision. I watched the moves and I saw Smoke dancing (it wasn't Smoke), I continued to watch and I saw Tykmyn dancing (it wasn't Tykmyn)... I decided to call this dancer "Toke" (Get it? Tyk+Smoke=Toke). I actually saw this several times during the contest, Toke was out there doing Tyk and Smokes moves. I'm sure it's flattering to these masters of the dance to be mimicked like that, but what I think Toke doesn't understand is it's fine to learn the moves, but do something different with the moves! Give them your own signature, otherwise it's not original, by definition, it's just mimicking someone else's move and it won't win contests. It's part of bringing your game to a higher level. We did get original moves in the contest from the usual innovators, but perhaps the next task for contestants is to try their hand at some personal choreography so we can be entertained with some originality. You never know it could net you some loot and a trophy.

View photos of the contest Here

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Support the History of Stepping Project

Please copy the message below and send it on to as many steppers as you can please!

This is an open message to ALL steppers. Please share it with as many people as possible.

 As many of you may already know I started a new web site for the benefit of the greater steppers community. It's called History of Stepping Project. I wish to encourage you to add your knowledge to the timeline. If you know anything about stepping, please share this with the public on this site. We are looking for all information related to stepping from it's beginnings to the present. The information literally includes everything from clubs and bars which held steppers sets and parties to contests and the participants and results, to when different steppers organizations and classes started, who the instructors were and are; Musical bands, and artists, DJ's, radio and television personalities, Movies, videos, and photos… literally everything stepping.
Creating an accurate historic timeline will go a long way toward helping the community take the next step in its logical progression as it continues to grow nationwide and will become a valuable resource for all in the future.
Your input, your knowledge and your effort have made the dance what it is today. Don't you feel your place (and your organization's) in the timeline is well deserved? I do!
Please send an email to your members or readers inviting them to participate. Place a link on your web site also please. All support is appreciated!

The effort requires more than just posting the information. The need for fact checkers, people willing to do some research exists in this important ongoing project. Just a few minutes a week can make a difference.

Thank You for your time!

Markie Bee
The History of Stepping Project


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