[5/19/2009 SteppersUSA Daily News]
What You See?
By Markie Bee
5-16-200- Majestic Gents at the Sabre Room Photos
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What you see on the web or (in real life too)can be deceptive, the minds way of seeing things is subject to so many variables for example; Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs. I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs psas it on. The point of this little exercise isn't that my spell checker has stopped working, or my poor use of grammar has slipped to an even lower level. Chicago style steppers are generally wary about what they see and hear and try to read meanings into things they encounter when interacting with others. What's the profit motive, how are they trying to get over, what's in it for me? We gloss over the information presented and miss what is actually there. If you're a student of "the count", it would be like ignoring everything between one and (what ever the last number you count to) is. Some people are truly serious about the dance while others just dance. Dumping everyone into a bucket and swishing it around and saying, OK everyone's now serious about the dance would be a big mistake. Calling or inferring someone who may not be a "serious stepper" anything less a dancer or a person because they choose to have a life outside the genre does a disservice to the dances appeal to the general public… the same general public we want to appeal to in order to spread the love of our dance to. Over the last few years in Chicago there has been plenty of talk about how there has been a drop off at some premiere events. While it's great to have and be outstanding in what you do as the "heavy hitters" of Chicago style stepping it would (and IS) be a mistake to disrespect those who make up the real majority of steppers by placing them into some sort of "steppers lower class". When you bean count participation and you wonder why people loose interest in the dance (as you see it), this cannot be discounted in the equation. Will it "hurt your reputation" as a great dancer if you "give a less talented (or committed) dancer the thrill of dancing with the best? Most of you do it in the classroom (yea, you're getting paid), but at the set it's a different scenario (yes I know you get tired too) and it's like dancing with a casual dancer is against some law. A great stepper can dance with anyone so how about a little charity for the sake of the dance? Do we need to have some sort of a "steppers retention program"? Perhaps just treating everyone at the set or party with some respect will do the trick. Some people in locations other than Chicago say they don't have this problem. But in Chicago I see it as a problem that can easily be fixed with a little attitude adjustment. We all see things as we want to see them for example look at the images below, first look at the image on the right (with both eyes) then look at the image on the left (with both eyes). Which way are the images spinning? Basically if you see the woman spinning clockwise - you are supposedly more right-brained; if you see her spinning counter-clockwise, you are supposed to be more left-brained. That's a myth and not true.
The image is not objectively "spinning" in one direction or other. It is a 2-dimensional image that is simply shifting back and forth. Our visual processing assumes we are looking at a 3-D image and it uses clues to interpret it as such. Or, without adequate clues, we may just arbitrarily decide a best fit - spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. And once this fit is chosen, the illusion is complete - we see a 3-D spinning image. My point is simple... Look at the whole picture both inside and out.
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What You See? 

 


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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Steppers History

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.

Steppers Community Definition Added
Cross Reference Word Index Added
Multiple Definitions Added Definitions Page
2006 3-G's Contest results added Timeline Updated
Steppers Compete 2003 Timeline Updated
The Dungeon in Chicago in the 1970's See the Personal Recollections Page

A Message To All Steppers (Click Here to View)

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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Tuesday May 19, 2009

 

Real Steppers S.C. (Every Tuesday)
Steppin' on a Tuesday Nite
Club Situation
2950 Derhake, Florissant, MO
6 PM - 1am
Free
realsteppers@stlouissteppers.com www.stlouissteppers.com
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Tuesday Night Steppers Explosion
MSBU
Garfield's 502
502 W. Garfield Avenue, Milwaukee, WI
9pm - Until
www.msbu.net
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"Steppin' On Tuesdays" (2nd & Last Tuesdays)
Chicago Style Steppin' Dance Class & After Party!
"The New Townhouse"
6835 La Tijera, Ladera, CA
6:30pm - 10pm
$5 - w/No Dance Class
www.celebritysteppers.com garry@celebritysteppers.com
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Late Night Steppin (Every Tue)
Damone Jackson
La Bodeguita De Pico
5047 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles CA
9pm - Until
Free
323-937-2822 theedaone@yahoo.com
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Celebrity Steppers
Cohiba's
110 E. Broadway @ Pine St., Long Beach, CA
7pm - 11
$5
310-266-4274 www.celebritysteppers.com
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