[8/10/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
New Blood
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
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I want to take a moment to thank Cynthia Bean for mentioning the National Chicago Style Steppers Day event and making note of the events listed on her newsletter. With just four days to go until the big event and since Cynthia published her newsletter a couple more cities submitted their events.
I intend to send out a special edition listing all of the events at the end of the week so nobody gets left behind in any city that has sent in their event information. Even if your event isn't an "official" celebration, I hope you remember to commemorate the occasion at your party or set! It is what it is and it's all about our dance.
It happens about every ten years and they have a name for it... it's called generational change. The effect it has on the Chicago style steppers community is always a discussion that ends up with many people "taking sides".
After watching a whole new crop of steppers in both the out of town and beginners categories of the WLSC, I started to wonder if we are witnessing a new generational shift forming up within our dance community.

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In discussions with Pete Frazier about the phenomenon he confirmed (at least partially) what I was seeing. "Some people are retiring from the contest or not participating any longer but new people are getting into the competition." I wouldn't be surprised to see some new people in the Walkers category this year after some veterans have made it clear they have finished competing opening up the category to some new blood.
I decided to look at the numbers from my websites as well as Facebook to see if there were any signs of change as to the gender and age of the site visitors. There is a change indicated by the numbers over the last year but I'm not sure how significant or reliable the signs may be. Nonetheless there is a bit of a shift toward a greater percentage of younger female visitors both on Facebook and on the sites I administer.
I do see a very small increase of males but not necessarily within the same age groups as the females and much of it may just be individuals growing older and shifting into a new age group. If it is actually a trend it means the women are younger and the men are older. The part I have always seen as interesting is regardless of age I'm consistently seeing new visitors to all sites in significant numbers across the board.
It will be interesting to see who gets into the last semi-final for the Original New Skool Category tonight at Mr. G's. Personally, I feel the category is still wide open and if someone comes in with something new and original they may just end up going to the finals with a bit of an edge over the current crop at the top of the category because they haven't produced something new and different. They could surprise me and do something new in the finals (how many times do you do the same moves before they become old) but that's the stuff that makes champions and I can't really say until I actually see it... Last years big move is old news and the move that will make the crowd go ooh and aah this year may just win under the new rules.
The J.E.P. Productions Hotter than July steppers contest is now on sale and can be ordered online here. Or Right Here!

What are you doing on August 14th? Please let me know!

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