[5/28/2009 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Generational Changes
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
Around twenty some years (give or take a few) ago, I remember watching the beginning of what I'll coin "generational changes" as vestiges of my parents heyday started to transform to "more modern" ways of living and interacting with each others as human beings. Cars got sleeker, the way they scheduled shows on the television changed and needless to say the content of those shows started to shift as well. The "Greatest Generation" brought us so much despite the shortcomings we loved to point out back then as we were determined to "change the world" to what we considered a more palatable version. What did we change the world to through the years? In the course of my lifetime, we were beatniks, hippies, rangers, a nation, yuppies, cell phone carrying, and personal computer owning single soccer parents who all loved to dance. Each person has their own version of the story of our dance. It really doesn't matter if they called it stepping, steppin', or step. It's the dance itself that counts and one thing has been clear, the thing we call Chicago style stepping today shows a faint resemblance to what they did while the dance was transforming from what was being done twenty five or thirty years ago. The cries over the loss of focus because people aren't dancing the same way that was done in the past reminds me of when I was a kid and everyone got color TV's but us. My mother told me to use my imagination, so I drew the colors in my head. No matter how hard I tried, the result wasn't the same as the "real thing". Everything is constantly being re-made or re-done in the current generation's image as they see it. In twenty years, Chicago style stepping will not look like what is being done on the dance floors of Chicago and the nation. It will look like a dance re-invented for the sake of the next generation. They may even rename it. My best suggestion is to watch yesterdays and today's stars when you have the opportunity, use what you've learned and innovate. Today's steppers are tomorrow's legends. So dance like no one is watching even though the whole world's watching. Don't forget the Chicago Steppers Convention starts tonight in Chicago. VIP tickets can be purchased online at StrictlySteppers.net. Also if you haven't seen the bar or if you don't follow SteppersUSA on Twitter, you don't know the Out of Town schedule is up on MajesticGents.Net and on WLSContest.Com. 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.

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Generational Changes 

 


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.

 

Thursday May 28, 2009

 

$1800 Steppers Contest Semi- Final
Giovanni's Sapphire Room
1131 E. Sibley Blvd., Dolton, IL
6pm - 12am
$5  Door
708-841-5000
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Can I Step With You (13 Year Anniversary)
Mr. G's
1547 W. 87th St., Chicago, IL
8pm - Until
$5 Door
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New Guys on the Block
The Pines
7204 W. Harrison, Forest Park, IL
FREE
7pm - Until
(Meet & Greet for 1st Annual Steppers Convention)
773-580-0529
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So You Think You Can Dance Contest (Every Thursday)
The Onyx Night Club
3120 W. Villard Ave. Milwaukee, WI
9pm - Until
Free
414-350-9476
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Afterwork Networking (Every Thursday)
The Marmon Grand
2230 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago IL
5:30pm - 11:00pm
$5.00 Door
312-225-8100
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Late Night Steppin (Every Thurs)
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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Double Dose of Steppin (Every Thursday)
DRD Productions
Bohemian Bar Grill
440 N Franklin Ave. Waukegan, IL
9:30pm - Until
Free
224-944-4387
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North Meets South Thursday Nite Steppers Set
African Harambee Restaurant
7537 North Clark St. Chicago, IL
10pm - 2am
847-571-8215 847-452-3471
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Thursday After Work Set
(Old School & New School House & Disco, Steppers, Neo-Soul, R&B, Reggae & Hip Hop)
Beef & Brandy
127 S. State Street Chicago , IL
6pm - Midnight
Free
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Free Steppin' @ Club Ellery's (Every Thursday)
Club Ellery's
2008 Campbellton Rd Atlanta, GA
9:00PM - 3:00AM
Free
404-755-2040 or www.ellerysatlanta.com
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Capital City Steppers
Grown Folk Thursdays at REDS Beach Club
1505 Capital Blvd., Raleigh, NC
8pm - until
capitalcitysteppers@yahoo.com
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Signature Style Steppers
Mr. G's
1547 W. 87th St., Chicago, IL
7pm - Until
$3 Door
Throw Back Thursday
773-416-5536
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Ambience 317
300 East
300 E. Fallcreek Parkway, Indianapolis, IN
7pm - 11pm
$5 Door
317-329-2939 www.Ambience317.com
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