[5/27/2009 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Convention & By Way of Radio?
By Markie Bee
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
Email Address for Pluggers and Flyers: pluggers@steppersusa.com
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
This weekend the Strictly Steppers Chicago National Convention hits the floor running starting tomorrow at "The Pines" in Forest Park, IL with the Free Meet and Greet set. The weekend includes events at the Best Western in Hillside, IL on Friday, The Lexington House, on Saturday, and the wrap-up at the Best Western in Hillside, IL again. It looks like it will be the only Chicago style steppers convention in the windy city this year as the three primary groups from last years gala dance fest have all gone their own ways… so this is it baby! If you visit StrictlySteppers.Net you'll be able to buy VIP tickets for the whole weekend's main events. I got several postings over the last weekend for the Steppers History Project website including an insightful look into a personal recollection from the 1950's. I got a post I can't put online that I'd like to, but someone didn't put an email address on the timeline item about Chicago radio and the ratings on New Years Eve. I can't confirm the information and I looked high and low on the web, but I can't find the January Arbitron book, or anything to support your claims. Stuff I did find on the web while searching Chicago radio stuff, is there's a new Smooth Jazz formatted station that replaced WNUA-FM right away its WLFM (wlfm877.com) at 87.7 FM. I read so many blogs about why radio is headed down the same path as newspapers and magazines… I think I may need to take a nap. When you think about it, radio started social networking long before there was an internet. You could call in to your favorite DJ and he would play your songs. You could follow those DJ's to the various locations they would appear at. Today, at those few stations that still staff live DJ's; calling the station will net you a short conversation with a producer, not the DJ. (For those who don't know it's been like that for ages). Today most radio is voice tracked, networked, or syndicated using the least talent they can get away with at the least cost. Live radio for the most part is relegated to a precious few and who knows how long that will last. Real radio is local; it's not top 40, not the most popular national song being played every 84 minutes at the demand of the big 4 recording labels. It can be compared to Chicago style stepping in a way that might be a reason for some worry is some steppers circles. Just like radio, real stepping is local. It's local in virtually every way and shape and form. Just ask anyone who has been stepping over 25 years and they will tell you about stepping and bopping in the clubs and bars and ballrooms and homes in Chicago. Most of the activity happened in the neighborhoods and that's as local as it gets. Bringing the dance national presents problems for the purists as they fear localized versions in other cities would vary from the original. Real purists don't like the eight-count, six-count, or any count for that matter. Just like in local radio, there will never be a replacement for Herb Kent playing music live on the air. To really experience Chicago style stepping, you are encouraged to come to the windy city. That's the mantra and it will be chanted forever by the Real steppers and the wannabe steppers in Chicago alike. What would happen if there was an offshoot from Chicago style stepping… let's say for example, Albuquerque steppers decide to add a little something to the dance and call it Albuquerque style stepping. There's no one who can tell them they can't do that. It just won't be Chicago style stepping. Remember it needs to have local flavor to work, just like real radio. If you would like to join SteppersUSA in Twitter or just to check it out, you'll see the twitter bird just below our logo. Just click on the twitter bird and it will bring you right to the SteppersUSA page on Twitter.  Watch the bar or follow SteppersUSA by clicking here.

How To Add a Comment on the Bar Tutorial
 

Tags

Convention & By Way of Radio? 

 


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

Take a look at our You Tube Steppers Video page and rate some videos (Seven pages now)

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
 

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

Steppers Special Events Details (Click Here to View)

Do You know of a set not listed? Post it in a comment on Google Connect.

 

Wednesday May 27, 2009

 

Class A Productions & Steppin B (Every 2nd & 4th Wednesday)
Acapulco's Restaurant
9405 Monte Vista Ave., Montclair, CA
7pm - 11pm
FREE
Casual Attire
909-936-1521 - www.SteppinB.com
Related Content ByCustom Search
Monthly Events Special Events
 

"C" Smoove Entertainment
Stepping at the 50 Yard Line (2nd & 4th Wednesday)
69 E. 75th St. Chicago, IL
7:30pm - 12am
crharper25@gmail.com
Related Content ByCustom Search
Monthly Events Special Events

 

Wednesday Steppers Set
Gentle Persuasion
8959 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL
6pm - 2am
Free
773-430-6572
Related Content ByCustom Search
Monthly Events Special Events

 

50+ Classic Steppers
Chez Roue
5200 W. Chicago Ave. Chicago, IL
5pm - 11pm
Free b4 7 $3 After
708-606-1221 deborahbrooks14@yahoo.com
Related Content ByCustom Search
Monthly Events Special Events

 

DBJ Productions Wednesday Night Steppin'
The Archive Lounge
6406 N. IH 35 Suite 1600 Austin, TX
7:30 pm - Midnite
$5.00
dbjproductions@yahoo.com
Related Content ByCustom Search
Monthly Events Special Events
 

Back In The Day Afterwork Set
Cailym Banquet Hall
2225 W. North Ave., Melrose Park, IL
6pm - 12am
773-552-0213
Related Content ByCustom Search
Monthly Events Special Events
 

One G Steppers
El Forgo
3636 Frankford #300, Dallas, TX
8pm - 1am
312-804-4278 www.onegsteppers.com
Related Content ByCustom Search
Monthly Events Special Events

 

757 Steppers Connection (Every Wednesday)
Tropical Delights Restaurant & Lounge
6220 Indian River Road, Virginia Beach, VA
7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
757-467-1025 757-366-9855
Related Content ByCustom Search
Monthly Events Special Events

 

 

Terms of Service and Privacy