[8/6/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Tick! Tick Tick!
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
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OK, I've been holding off on using this phrase because it's so overused by virtually everybody in the entire steppers community in just about every promotion. The reason I don't use it is because it reminds me so much of a commercial I used to run when I worked in radio and I'm sure you've all heard it (especially those in Chicago land). The commercial was for US 30 Drag Strip and I can still hear the announcers shouting Sunday!!! Sunday! At US 30 Drag strip! At that time I think every radio guy had his own take on that commercial. When you think about it the commercial only worked so... so... because the place went out of business. So much for super fueled funny cars and other drag racers.
Tomorrow there will be one week left until National Chicago Style Steppers Day So Here goes that phrase I dread; Calling All Steppers! Calling All Steppers! Calling All Steppers! (Perhaps if I say it three times more people will pay attention)! It's like shouting it from the rooftop or perhaps like a yodeler in the Alps communicating across mountain tops (although some legends differ). Can you imagine yodeling Calling All Steppers?
Nonetheless, it's time to finalize those plans to be at one of the many celebrations across the country honoring our art form, our dance and the people who step, who have stepped, and who will step. the clock Is ticking! Tick, Tick, Tick!

More Below

Continued


Our friends in Oakland not too long ago posted a gift in the SteppersUSA Facebook page... one of the best gifts you can give a stepper... the gift of steppers music made just for steppers. The song is by Jazz Saxophonist Ric Alexander and its co written by D'Wayne Wiggins from Tony Toni Ton'e, (who coincidentally, will be in Chicago this weekend with his brother Rafael Saadiq) and the name of the song is "Keep It Simple Steppers" (KISS). The song is real smooth. You can hear the song if you're reading this. Tell me what you think. Oh by the way, the CD is available on Amazon, iTunes and CDBay. Thanks Oakland for the gift!
I think it's great that over the last couple of years there are artist's that have come to learn and understand that "Steppers beat" that's so distinctive about our music. It has to be danceable by the stepping community for us to have interest and many artists are realizing the potential in our growing market. I've said it many times dance is an expression of emotion and so is music and when they match it's a beautiful thing!
The Steppers Weekend Roundup Friday Edition
It's not a big steppers special event type weekend but there are plenty of first Friday sets happening across the country tonight. Here in Chicago the Lollapalooza concert event is going to clog up traffic in the downtown area around Grant park as the crows will start early in the morning and not leave till late at night (Great! I have to drive right by there to get to the JEP First Friday event tonight). I just don't want to be in the area when Lady Gaga is performing. In any case you can see all of today's steppers events farther down the page and if you want to see the rest of the weekend's events you'll have to visit the Steppers Perpetual Calendar page.
I just finished the two DVD set from the J.E.P. Productions Hotter than July steppers contest and the total editing time was less than eight hours. I'm also working on an instructional DVD for a client and I've already invested more than three times the amount of time in editing and creating the DVD and it's not done yet (but is still on schedule).
The J.E.P. Productions Hotter than July steppers contest is now on sale and can be ordered online here. Or Right Here! I'll also be at Club Dyamonds with a few copies tonight.

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

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