[9/9/2008 SteppersUSA News]
State of Stepping in 2008 Part 2
By Markie Bee
Full Official WLSC Qualifiers List + New
Videos + Tickets -
Click Here Buy Tickets + Chicago Steppers Convention Info -
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Here In
part 2 of this series I continue to see what has changed since the first
article was published a year and a half ago. The full text of the
original February
2007 article is available
here
Cooperation between generations of Steppers... Can
it happen?
The "generation gap" has existed for ages and will last as the next
younger generation is able to show some form of disdain toward what the
older generation is doing or has done. They will give lip service
to the previous group of Steppers by saying they will
honor what was done "back in the day". Their actions show their
hand.
As a result Steppin' changes. One thing all generations need to realize,
the one consistent thing about Steppin' is that it is continually
changing. Not so many people do the Bop these days. So the new Skool
steps to Hip Hop, what's wrong with that? Chicago style Steppin' will
always be Chicago style Steppin' (what ever form it takes in the
future).
How much of this has changed? Not one bit.
I can't count the number of events and sets where the "New Skool" just
hasn't shown up to support what the "Old Skool"
was offering but I do give you this much... The majority of those
who offer (especially) the largest events are Old
Skoolers and after the basics there's no better way to learn
real stepping than to watch and dance with people who have been
dancing the dance for more years than some steppers have been alive. Yes
the dance is constantly changing, but I don't know how many times I've
heard a veteran of the dance say, "What they're doing today isn't
elegant and they all need footwork, even the best ones." So the gap
widens. Herb Kent used to say on his Steppin at Club
Seven Show, "Steppin' isn't just a dance. It's a way of life". Business
is a part of life too. Let's face it there aren't many aggressive
business people in Steppin' today. What I mean about that is there
aren't aggressive business people who step, but at least aren't
aggressive for the sake of Steppin', its promotion, and growth. Too many
people are thinking too small. About the "It's a way of life" portion of the statement. I've had
many years to observe and be a part of the steppers community, and I
feel some people take that portion of the TV Tag Line way too seriously!
The fact is it is a dance, and that means Steppin is daily
and weekly Steppin sets and classes. It's contest's and social
events put together for those who love the dance...In other
words, it's about the dance!
On the business end, I feel a small amount of progress is in evidence at
this point in time. This year for the first time, we will have a
Chicago Steppers
Convention where three promoters work together to make magic. In the
last year and a half, I've seen lots of web sites pop up, but most still
don't "get it" when it comes to web sites. There are just too many
people using pre built templates that just put a little information out
there, but they just let the sites sit there and won't or can't bring
their sites to a new level. Remember a site is supposed to be a
representation of how live and vibrant the dance and the organization
doing the promotion is. Mostly the sites out there are nothing more than
static billboards and that needs to change. The need to attract people
from outside the genre is huge and it is not being addressed. So for the
most part the promoters are still thinking too small. Part 3 Tomorrow
Do you think Moves like in this video
should be allowed in the WLSC? Watch the video
and Take the poll
If you or anyone you know has any photos, footage or information about
or from any Steppers contests for the
History of Stepping Project,
I'd love to add it to what we have. It's Your History! OR If you have a personal recollection concerning stepping or if you care to help
with the
in any manner, please
Send us an email.
SteppersUSA.Com sells Steppin' DVDs from across the Steppers Community.
Click Here to view the listing
or
send us an email
if you would like to include your DVDs on SteppersUSA.Com
The SteppersUSA Daily News and SteppersUSA.Com are both
daily
publications which update continually. We accept and publish Steppers
classes and workshops, Daily events, weekly events, monthly events,
special events, steppers news, requests for information which we can't
answer but our visitors may have an answer to. All of this makes us the
most complete listing of Steppers information available anywhere. Send
your submissions and pluggers or flyers to us at
webmaster@steppersusa.com TODAY!
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.
Steppin' With Ice Mike
(Every Tuesday)
The Oak Leaf Pines
7412 W. Harrison St. Forest Park, IL
Free Admission - $3 Drink Ticket
773-842-2110 Related Content ByCustom
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In
part 2 of this series I continue to see what has changed since the first
article was published a year and a half ago. The full text of the
original February
2007 article is 
