[5/11/2009 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Isn't It Time Yet? News & Rumors
By Markie Bee
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A bit of news and rumors to start with today. The second annual Orbies steppers contest is on! As you may remember last year, the contest was a gigantic success in it's initial year. Total prize money is $2,500.00 with $1,200.00 allocated to first place. The first semi final is scheduled to be on June 4th, with the finals on July 9th. Each night the contest starts at 10pm sharp. Jimmy Jam is the promoter once again this year. The rumor mill is talking again too, there's word that the deal with Club D'Elegance may have fallen through and they won't be having a contest. It's a rumor, but that's what I've heard and until I hear different, it is what it is. Saturday night I saw a video on YouTube that was promoted as Salsa and Cha-Cha-Cha Meet Steppers in Chicago. (those with a YouTube account should comment on the video) It was promoted as a fusion of the dances, but what I saw was anything but what was being promoted according to the text that accompanied the video. The basic pattern from stepping was completely missing I've seen successful fusion between steppers and Salseros like Ken Amorio and Tina and Eric as well as the legendary Calvin Barnes. Videos like the one described above do a disservice to our dance and misrepresent to the public what Chicago style stepping looks like by causing confusion in the public eyes. It's just one more reason to return to my call for recognition of the basic pattern as an "official standard" for certification of Chicago style stepping. I've been calling for certification of the basics (and no other part of the dance simply because everything beyond the basic pattern can be chalked up to an individuals style) for a very long time now. There are people out there that attempt to call line dancing stepping, we know it isn't stepping (it's a diversion from stepping that happens once a night at many steppers sets), but confusion for the uninitiated public comes into play once again. We need certification of the most unmistakable part of the dance… the basic pattern. You can't say you're a Chicago style stepper if your dance doesn't include the basic pattern. It really doesn't matter which count variation you use, just use the basic pattern! The dance is being subverted by others because of a lack of solidarity (i.e. standardization and certification via the basic pattern) because of a failure to really "own" the dance. Chicago style stepping is suffering an identity crisis with the public because of inaction on the part of the community. No one is attempting to stifle creativity in the dance but a stand in behalf of the dance needs to be made and soon. Everyone seems to be in agreement about the basic pattern, so what is the next step? If the broader Chicago style steppers community can't come together to create some sort of a national board of governance (like other dance forms use widely) how could this come to be? Who can exercise enough influence to bring this beyond the point of conversation once and for all? Think about it... removing any question who is a beginner in a contest with a certification of the basic pattern because there could be a record with a date on it. The conversation is necessary, but action is what is needed for the sake of the dance. Hit the bar with comments and suggestions.

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Isn't It Time Yet? News & Rumors 

 


Sunshine Stepping at Club 142 in Hammond, IN with a variety of the stars of the Chicago style stepping community including Steppin' James, Carlos, Dominique, Johnny (JC) Carter, Royce Banks, Swan, and G. Porgie. The video was shot freehand by Markie Bee (SteppersUSA.Com) live and unscripted after Sunshine's Ladies Styling class.

 

Earl & Robin at the 219 Contest Finals

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