SteppersUSA

9/3/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 12:19:32 -0500

[9/3/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Accepting Change
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
It took a lifetime (in internet years) but I've finally managed to get everyone (that counts) to stop sending email to my old personal email address. People are generally slow to accept changes but when it comes to technology they are even slower to make changes happen. In most cases I really feel it's because they don't seem to know how to make the changes in something I would consider as simple as editing a contact email in a contact list. I don't know how many times I've heard people say they didn't want to mess something up in their email. Of course if they don't change the email address they'd be messing up too because the old address wouldn't do them any good. They rationalize that they'll remember to send me email using the new address but what happens if you have hundreds of contacts and several dozen people change their email addresses over time wouldn't that become a bit confusing?
I think (in a way) some of the same type of logic is used in the Chicago style steppers community as changes are proposed in the way we do some things within the genre. It's not a bad thing when people propose changes but when people show an almost knee jerk reticence to change (especially change that would benefit all) I have to shake my head in disbelief...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

9/1/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 15:02:56 -0500

[9/1/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Holiday Weekend
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
People call the Labor Day holiday weekend the end of summer and as the tradition plays out with kids either going or already back to school, lifeguards finishing a summer job, final picnics planned it means it's time in the Chicago style steppers community to do what they have always done. Dance!
Part of what has become a bit of a tradition over this holiday is the annual steppers party in Atlanta which this year is themed with a "going green" twist. Also this year Terrance Pratt from Chistepper.Com is holding his Peoples Choice ceremony during the Sunday event from Sara Teagle's event packed weekend lineup. I'm not going to run down all of the events because they're all listed on the perpetual events calendar.
The Poll
This weeks WLSC poll has stirred up some interest and if it was an political election I think there would be shouts for a recount and it would all end up in a runoff because if the results (so far) were any closer it would be a virtual tie. The question has to do with how you look at the "Out of Town Category" in the World's Largest. You have two choices; either you feel there should be an "Out of Town Category" for people from cities other than Chicago or you think they should let people from other cities compete within existing categories...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/30/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:34:08 -0500

[8/30/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
P.T. Barnum Class For All
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
When it comes to the World's Largest according to our small poll which ran on SteppersUSA last week you made a strong statement as a community of what you want the contest to be. Seventy eight percent of those who voted want to see the WLSC as more than a giant club contest. In other words, you would prefer the contest to be a serious battle for supremacy guided by strong unbending rules and pre-finals eliminations. In other words you're looking for a serious contest like other more established dance forms have had in place for many years. Correct me if you think I'm wrong.
The point I made not too long ago in this column titled Real Contests comes into play. Essentially a promoter has one job initially; and that's to fill the room by whatever means necessary. They have to create talk and interest in the event and to get you to buy tickets. As I mentioned in my August 9th article there is a genuine conflict of interest that sprouts up when the promoter is also running a contest that is supposed to be more than a club contest. After discussing this with many other people... there are very real doubts the current rules are adequate or that they will be followed in the way the majority of people want to see. So the question keeps rising why won't Chicago style steppers accept the fact that until they can embrace a sanctioning body the WLSC will be more of a modern day P.T. Barnum style dog and pony show?
It does hurt the integrity of the dance each time a rule gets stretched, changed, or added mid-stream but who do we really have to blame? One person we blame is the promoter but in reality we probably should look in the mirror first...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/29/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:34:06 -0500

[8/29/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Hostess w/the Mostest & New Poll
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
Last night I went to the monthly Paradise Production party at Mr. G's where Rose Wellington just about always draws a capacity crowd filling up both sides of the place. It seems like every time the place (Mr. G's) hits capacity, the air conditioning can't keep up with all of the of humanity working out on the dance floor. You start feeling it at around 10pm and it seems to hit critical mass within about an hour after that.
Rose is the quintessential party planner and hostess and many steppers organizations would do well by watching and learning how she makes her event work. You don't see Rose making a grand entrance to her event a couple of hours into the event. Instead you see her there long before the party starts doing much of the set-up herself (even though she has plenty of able help who does do quite a bit themselves) like any capable team leader. If there is something her team missed along the way you can be sure Rose does catch it and takes care of whatever needs to be done. She's been doing this party forever and knows exactly what needs to be done.
It seems like the lady never sits down during her party she's always greeting every person in the place with a warm thank you in every conversation she has with you showing she genuinely appreciates your choosing her party to come to...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/27/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:04:32 -0500

[8/27/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Free Calls, Camera's, and Loud Music
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
With the economy in the dumper it's always good to hear about something that's for free... Well here's one more reason to get Google's Gmail. The latest new feature added to the online service is free phone service right in your email.
You can now make free calls anywhere in the United States and Canada from your computer and this includes video calls.
I've had Google Voice since they started the beta and that's a cool free feature by itself because you can make and receive calls with your own personal phone number for life and it has so many features it's unbelievable.
Now that my carrier has smart phones I know I'll be making the switch pretty soon so I can take full advantage of the Google system from the smart phone. In either case it's a great way for steppers to keep in touch for free considering the experts are saying we're about to dip back into recession (if you listen to the experts and the news).
Just when I resigned myself to the fact that the camera I want cost's too much for me to afford... Canon came out with a new EOS camera that's much more affordable than the $4900 camera I wanted. The new 60D will come out at the end of September and have HD video and 18 Megapixel resolution for around $1100. The dream lives again! Uh anyone have $1100 to loan?
I'm going to make a blanket statement based on my experiences. I'm sure there are exceptions to the statement but it is what it is right? ...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/26/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:02:12 -0500

[8/26/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Huh? International World
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
If yesterday’s steppers beat seemed a bit disjointed it might be because I’ve been toying with speech recognition software in windows seven. It seems like every time I start speaking a long sentence the software misunderstands a key word or two it’s all about training the software I guess. In a way it’s kind of like the column that I wrote yesterday... It all comes down to practice, practice, and practice. So I’m continuing to use it today to see if the results are getting better.
With one month to go until the World’s largest the tables are almost sold out, the contestants meeting is scheduled at 7:00 at the 50 yard line on the 13th and it appears everything is falling into place for the big contest.
People are trying to mess with the name of the contest over last year after the copyright discussion change the name from world’s largest steppers contest to the world’s largest steppers competition. Somebody got the brainstorm to put the word international into the name of the contest at some point which is sort of redundant. After all the words "world" and "international" seem pretty synonymous with each other don't you think?
It's all pretty ridiculous if you ask me... It's like the World Series... exactly how much of the world plays in the American or National leagues in major league baseball?...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/25/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:08:29 -0500

[8/25/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Mistakes Are Learning Opportunities
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
Sometimes the days of the week all run together I loose track of what day of the week it is. I don't know if it's a result of age or that I am that busy. I did something that I normally don't do yesterday… I shot photos outside during the daylight and talk about a challenge… Normally I shoot photos inside at night in the dark a completely different world. It's so easy to make mistakes in the broad daylight; just dealing with too much light is a real challenge for somebody who shoots with their lens wide open most of the time.
Of course I'm not going to bore you with all the camera details, settings, and other stuff but needless to say the majority of the hundred shots or so I took didn't turn out very well. It was a learning experience… Just being outside in the daylight is a challenge for me when I took the day because I think it was probably the nicest day of the summer so far, not too much humidity, a little overcast, but not as hot as it has been.
The shoot was out by Lake Michigan and I did manage to get a few of the shots that I wanted most importantly I managed to get the shots I needed. Fortunately I'm a master at Photoshop and can fix most of the problems I created with incorrect camera settings. I never realized how much of a blue cast the lake can put on a subject. Most of my motion shots were a bit blurry but I managed to get a couple which is all I needed...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/24/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:10:02 -0500

[8/24/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Really, Would You Travel If?
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
A lot of people have thrown many ideas my way from the beginning when we started the National Chicago Style Steppers Day back in March and now that it has come to fruition even more ideas have come my way from every direction.
I fully intend to engage everyone who is interested in promoting and planning next year’s event (August 13, 2011) when we have a teleconference after the World’s Largest weekend.
I was wondering how many people would travel to a large unified event for example. It’s not like everyone who steps is willing (or financially able) to jump on a plane to fly to another city for a steppers event. From what I gather from what I hear, have seen, and read the high end is somewhere around 1500 (give or take a couple of hundred) people are willing to travel to step at a big event.
We’ve seen that number go up and down at some events but as I just said earlier, the number usually seems to either grow or shrink by about 200 each year. The real estate industry has a saying, "Location, location, location" and I have to think that plays heavily in some people's decision to travel to an event in another city. For example many Chicago steppers from Chicago don't really give the trip up to Milwaukee, St. Louis, Indianapolis, or Detroit a second thought. These cities are just minutes (Milwaukee) or a few hours away by car. They used to call these "one tank trips"...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/22/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 10:32:56 -0500

[8/22/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Can You Answer One Question?
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
This time of year much of the focus of the Chicago style steppers community is on the upcoming World’s Largest Steppers Competition (WLSC). We’ve endured virtually every type of controversy one can imagine during the contest's twenty year run. Every time I think we've pretty much run the gambit, a new type of controversy manages to pop up either before, during or after the contest.
Much of it is written off because there are elements in the community who just seem to live to find things wrong with any venture that shows even a modicum of success, but every once in a while some truly valid questions arise.
As we run up to the contest date, I thought it may be useful to run a series of polls to ask relevant questions of the Chicago style steppers community concerning the contest.
Each poll question will run for seven days and address some key issues concerning the contest and from those polls we might just get a better view of how the community as a whole feels about the contest and what may indicate the future of the competition.
Who knows we may just be able to create a new era of transparency to the whole concept of steppers contests and maybe even dance contests in general... It’s all really up to you!
The first question I chose to ask in the first poll is...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/20/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:50:01 -0500

[8/20/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Keeping It Smooth Running
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
The Majestic Gents Pete Frazier and DJ Mellow Khris don't want a repeat of some previous years contest glitches when it comes to the music selections for the contestants. Those who remember the WLSC at Willow Brook a couple of years ago where the Gents favorite DJ was delayed because the contestants waited until the last moment to get their mix selections to him.
This year there will be no secrets or delays musically. There is a deadline for submitting musical selections to Mellow Khris for the 20th anniversary edition of the contest has been set for Monday September 13th and if the music is not submitted by the deadline it becomes the DJ's choice of music for the performance.
The only custom mixes this year will be made for the Trio and Masters categories all other categories will be mixed live from their selections of music. I'm not sure how it will work considering there will be two couples on the floor at the same time and I have my doubts Khris will mix six songs (three per couple) in three minutes.
Pete also posted up the annual no video camera statement to the WLSC site. Actually it's the no video recording device statement this year. Here's what's posted on the site: "All Video Recording is Strictly Prohibited At The Finals. Persons Caught Using Camcorders Or Cell Phone Video Recording Devices Will Be Escorted From The Venue. No Refunds Will Be Issued."
I pressed the issue with him asking him why even put up the statement if he has no intention of enforcing it (as in prior years) and he said...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/19/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:04:46 -0500

[8/19/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
I'm (Hyper) Venting
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
I'm just (hyper) venting here but... There are some days you feel you're better off not getting out of bed and today started off like one of those days. I worked late into the night last night capturing and reviewing every video clip I shot from the WLSC Chicago semi-finals (over 100 gigabytes and four plus hours of video). It took four and a half hours just to capture the tapes to the hard drive and about six hours to review the video... add a couple more hours for note taking and planning and I was exhausted when I hit the pillow at about 4am. I woke up to find I was still connected to the internet (which is something I try not to do when I'm not using the computer... it's just a good idea to disconnect when you're not actively using it. At some point during my sleeping hours A Java update downloaded itself and was asking to be installed so in my early morning hazed state of mind I told it to install... major mistake! The software was demanding a reboot and I figured since I hadn't rebooted in a while it was a good idea so bam! After the reboot my keyboard wouldn't work and windows wouldn't start. I played with putting other keyboards on the computer and when that didn't seem to help, I started to disconnect hard drives and other items attached to the machine. After messing around with different configurations for an hour or two the machine recognized the original keyboard but by then my windows installation was saying I was having problems starting! (And I thought I was the master of the obvious)...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/18/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:38:25 -0500

[8/18/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
It's On!
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
If you look at the seating chart for the WLSC you'll notice (as of this writing) the ability to get VIP seating and reserve a table is fading really fast. After last nights semi-finals the level of anticipation has raised considerably as some unwritten "rules conflicts" were claimed by Pete Frazier who said people couldn't dance in the Masters Category and Trio and Walkers in the same contest. I don't see it there when I'm looking at the rules, but perhaps I'm missing it. Wait no they're holdover "unwritten rules" from last year where Masters Category participants can't also monopolize the other categories. Pete Frazier framed it like this, If people want to see the same dancers compete year after year there would be no need for a Masters category but they want to see upcoming new talent. No matter how you look at it, this will be the longest contest in WLSC history. Before last nights semi-finals there were 71 couples who were slated to dance in Tinley a little more than a month from now but after last night even if the number is cut down through "tha rule" we will still see a total of 85 performances so brace yourselves for a very long night. If (and we know it won't) every couple danced two at a time with no time in between that would be two hours of straight dancing. The complete official list of contestants with their scores sorted high to low is available on WLSContest.Com...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/16/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:41:15 -0500

[8/16/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Untapped Potential
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
The saying goes "don't put all of your eggs in one basket" and guess what? That's what many Chicago style steppers are doing when it comes to promoting their events and sets. They put the event on Facebook and many aggressively promote the event on the social networking site figuring they "have it covered" but they're so off base when they think that and I'll tell you why. There are approximately 130 Million US users on Facebook of the 310 million broadband users (I'm not including other forms of connection for this example) in the United States and let's say you have the Facebook imposed maximum of 5000 Friends. Are you scratching the surface? Not hardly!
For example, the Chicago Style Stepping group on Facebook has 4,500 members. Does that mean there are 4,500 steppers on Facebook when Facebook has 130 million US members? There's lot's of potential there but it's mostly untapped potential because of the way Facebook works.
SteppersUSA only gets between 3 and 15 percent of its visitors from Facebook on a daily basis what about the remaining 97 or 85 percent of the remaining people? That's the part of the market that's left untapped both inside and outside of Facebook.
What makes things worse is when people post events to Facebook, 90 percent of the time; they post incomplete information about their own events! I've seen people forget to post the address to the venue, the time of the event (or post the wrong time of an event), the cost of the event is missing, they don't post contact information, many don't even post the flyer for the event and the list continues.
Consider this...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/14/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 12:03:03 -0500

[8/14/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Happy NCSSD America!

By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
Happy National Chicago Style Steppers Day America! It's like the Merry Christmas greeting but for steppers. Today is OUR day! As you can see below there are plenty of Live streaming videos scheduled for tonight on Ustream.tv and many celebrations across the country (many of which started last night and one that started at the beginning of the week). I spent time on the phone yesterday with people from around the country and the excitement level is truly off the chain. Just the fact that we made it to today makes the months of work and effort a worthwhile endeavor.
This is just the first, we've made mistakes, some ideas didn't exactly flush out but if anyone expected perfection in uncharted territory like this they just have to remember we are all humans and that's how we learn and grow. Bottom line: Today is a great day that creates great opportunities for all steppers to come together with the main purpose of honoring the dance.
If you can't come to an event (we all have lives) wish someone a Happy Chicago style steppers day. Do it online or do it in person after all it's the spirit of the day. It doesn't matter if you're a veteran of 40 years in the dance or if you've just started out...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/13/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News EXTRA Edition

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:27:38 -0500

Volume 4 Issue 7 Friday 8/13/2010 EXTRA Edition

[8/13/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News EXTRA Edition]
NCSSD Special Edition
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com

It's One Day to go until the National Chicago Style Steppers Day Events and I'm going to try to wrap it all up with a special Steppers Beat edition.
The variety of events and activities on National Chicago Style Steppers Day (NCSSD) across the country tomorrow is mind boggling. There are picnics, BBQ's, Black Tie dinners, live video streams, proclamations, and did I mention stepping! They will all be happening in cities from Florida to New York to Seattle to Los Angeles and many cities in between.
Below you will see the list of NCSSD events which have been listed on SteppersUSA.Com there are other events, but the representatives in those cities never got the information to me. They may still submit their events so keep checking the perpetual steppers events calendar for updates (the final updates will take place on Saturday morning)
For those who don't know the history of how this day came to being, I wanted to give you a recap.
It all started with a Facebook Group Called Chicago Style Stepping founded by Markie Bee of SteppersUSA.Com. The groups purpose statement is; It doesn't matter if you're Old Skool, New Skool, or no Skool, East Coast, West Coast, Midwest or South. Across the country We're all Steppers 4 Ever! The dance is here for everyone to enjoy!
Once the group reached a milestone of over 3000 members Markie sent an email to all of the members suggesting a get together unlike other Facebook get-togethers in the Chicago style steppers genre. He proposed the group meet in multiple cities simultaneously and use modern technology via Laptops or smart phones to upload photos or video from each event to the group so everyone can see all of the events.
As the event planning continued, the idea occurred that this could become an event that should be all-inclusive and not limited to one Facebook group but to all steppers in all Facebook Groups, and pages dedicated to the Chicago style steppers genre.
Of course from there the idea went beyond the bounds of Facebook.
The National Chicago Style Steppers Day event idea grew from the thought based on the idea there wasn't a day where all people who step could celebrate the dance they love, and the people who make up the ever-growing community where ever they are across the United States thus taking it beyond the limits of Facebook, its Groups and pages.
The members of the group were invited to a conference call where ideas were tossed around and it was decided a poll of the members to decide the date of the event would be held. The date of the event was decided as a result of the poll as the second Saturday in August. This years event is Saturday August 14th...Continued

Today's Pluggers

8/13/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News EXTRA Edition

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:00:00 -0500

Today's Pluggers

8/12/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:32:30 -0500

[8/12/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Steppers Video Time
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
I've got to continue my thank you list... Sheldon Patrick of Indianapolis made mention of NCSSD in one of the "Special Issues" of his newsletter. The "CSO of Radio" Lamont Watts of ClubSteppin.Com has been a great assistance with plugs and Deacon Doc of Step on It TV has made mention of the celebration as well. Thanks to all!
With just two days to go until National Chicago Style Steppers Day, I got a nice surprise gift from the steppers groups in Atlanta. Our Atlanta representative Lamont Coy emailed a copy of a proclamation by DeKalb County Georgia acknowledging National Chicago Style Steppers Day. The proclamation also listed the names of Atlanta steppers organizations. The proclamation is posted both on Facebook and on Steppers4Ever.Com on the Atlanta page.
I was on the phone with Pete Frazier when it came and he said he would go to the mayor's office in Chicago to get one for here. Pete you better not just be talking! He works for the city so it's not a long haul for him to make a call to the Mayors office (and official recognition of the dance in the city it was created in on our day would be beyond nice).
If you know (or are) a city, county, or state official it's not too late to do the same in your city/county/state August 14th is about recognizing the dance officially too!
If you'll remember in the August 6th issue I posted the song is "Keep It Simple Steppers" (KISS) by Oakland saxophonist Ric Alexander...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/11/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:27:09 -0500

[8/11/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
More about New Blood
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
This is becoming a daily habit but it's a good habit! I want to thank Terrance Pratt for posting about National Chicago Style Steppers Day on his website Chistepper.Com. To answer his question about his understanding about the event... Yes, the only thing being asked of Steppers is that they organize events and get out to dance.
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.
The column yesterday about a third generation of Chicago style steppers caused me to think a bit more about the subject. As humans we always seem bent toward classifying everything and everyone so I pose this question... If the Old Skool is still the Old Skool and the next generation should now be called the New Skool what are we supposed to call the middle generation of steppers because they aren't the New Skool any longer and they aren't the Old Skool are they?
Technically speaking they would probably become part of the Old Skool right? I don't know but I know quite a few (old) New Skoolers who would probably have a fit if they were called Old Skoolers... but time does march on doesn't it?
We don't want to introduce age into this especially since in our highest profile activity... the Worlds Largest, we finally got rid of the age grouping in the categories.
I'm starting to think perhaps (even if they don't like the label) we're going to have to start calling the (old) New Skool...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/10/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:48:13 -0500

[8/10/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
New Blood
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
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...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/9/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 11:00:31 -0500

[8/9/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Real Contests
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
Five days to go! Do I need to say more?
I've been talking about this for quite a while with friends and acquaintances about steppers contests and I've alluded to it for some time in this column. When it comes down to it all of these contests (as far as the comparison can be made) are not real contests.
The contest is a way for promoters to make some money... period. A real contest has a sanctioning authority. Chicago style stepping has not en masse, recognized a sanctioning authority.
A real contest would be governed by a set of rules set down from that sanctioning authority which would be based on accepted competition guidelines used by other dance competitions where the promotions is a completely separate department within the association (or an outside contractor) and is divorced from the governing body.
This all leads to the question why won't Chicago style stepping embrace a more widely recognized path toward real certification which would be the only legitimate path toward real competitions judged by professionals?
In a real competition (contest) if you miss any part of a basic move, points get deducted. If a competitor dances off beat, points get deducted. If a competitor doesn't smile at all times while doing their routine, points get deducted. If there is a variation from format in any shape or form the competitor gets disqualified. How much of that really happens when we have a contest?...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/8/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Sun, 8 Aug 2010 07:19:21 -0500

[8/8/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
1055 Issues... WOW!
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
I put out the first issue of this newsletter 1055 issues ago in 2007 and today marks the first issue of volume 4. Most days over the last three years I've had something to say about what I considered to be a topical issue related to the Chicago style steppers community... I made attempts to champion a few causes... and pushed for positive change within the community while urging greater exposure to the rest of the world.
I could do an annual review of some type and highlight events from the newsletters past...
I could also go over changes from SteppersUSA's history from October 2004 to the present and perhaps I will in October when the site reached that particular milestone.
Right now I feel the most important thing to talk about is next Saturday's National Chicago Style Steppers Day. We started planning this event back in February and put it in motion in March and as time went on, the plan changed and adapted to what was happening in the various cities across the country. Over the last couple of months, I spent so much time on communicating with various individuals who had interest but still weren't convinced this effort would take hold (especially in Chicago) my face turned blue enough to confuse me with a member of the Blue Man Group...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/7/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 13:19:15 -0500

[8/7/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Everyone Say Cheese!
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
Before I start... Next Saturday is the day! All steppers are requested to make their way to the dance floor for the first ever National Chicago Style Steppers Day event across the country. It's time to "get it in"!
Unlike most, when I go to a set or a party or an event I am there either by request or arrangement specifically to take photos of people on the dance floor for my clients and advertisers. When someone asks me not to take their photo, I do my best to honor their request but that's not stopping any of the other people in the room from getting that shot the "subject" doesn't want taken.
You know when you see me "on the set" I'm there to chronicle the dance in my small way (although at one point I could have made some good money shooting for the "Cheaters" TV show). I'm not there to photograph you in a compromising situation.
It's an age of photos and videos and there's no escaping the fact. Overhead, the mapping satellite can zoom in with such detail you can identify your car in the driveway. Many people now have personal surveillance systems in their homes and you know the camera's eye never blinks.
Your boss may have video of you on the job and you know virtually every business has had cameras trained on your every move while you are inside and in many cases outside their establishments.
Traffic cameras not only get your car, but also your license plates and who is in the car. In Chicago and many other large cities, you can't go anywhere without being on camera by the police, security or someone with a cell phone and a Facebook account...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/6/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Fri, 6 Aug 2010 03:00:00 -0500

[8/6/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Tick! Tick Tick!
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
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!...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/4/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Wed, 4 Aug 2010 12:33:07 -0500

[8/4/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Contest Instructors and the Public
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
The World's Largest Original Old Skool roster of contestants from Chicago completed last night at Mr. G's as nine couples appeared for the last semi-final in Chicago for that category. Once again the room was packed as DJ Cross was in the box.
The scores and overall rankings by score are posted on the official Worlds Largest Steppers Competition website WLSContest.Com. The photos from the dance party before the competition are also posted on the site.
There are still plenty of good VIP tables available for the competition. If you know ten people who intend on getting VIP tickets for the good seats it might be an idea to pool together and get a table. This gives you a choice of seating arrangements which may not be available as the contest date draws closer.
Ten days until National Chicago Style Steppers Day (NCSSD) and there isn't a day that goes by that people are asking me about instruction. These are people who want to learn the dance and want to participate in the NCSSD events across the country. Many of the cities are offering workshops (many free) it's up to the instructors to get the word out to the public. One problem as I see it is the...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/2/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 09:51:54 -0500

[8/2/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Stepping Story Tellers
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
Chicago style stepping is an art form and it's as much about personal expression as it is about recreation. Every dance from ballet to modern tells a story. The best professional competitive dancers choreograph a storyline into their performances for competition.
In our dance... every once in a while you can see a storyline emerge when a particular couple hits the floor in a club. You know it when you see it; the push and pull of a relationship including acceptance, and rejection, pain and joy being expressed with body language, footwork, a smile or a frown.
The ability to create images with our dance is akin to comparing stepping to jukin'. A truly championship quality stepper not only has their mechanics right but through their dance they are able to inspire those who watch through the expression of the emotions between a couple on the floor. A juker can only writhe and shake... there's no real choreography there.
It really doesn't matter if you step to the Old Skool or the New Skool. Self expression is still the key to making the dance look good and if you can't get yourself past the "number counter" stage of development your dance will look robotic and the only expression you may see is that of frustration...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

8/1/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Sun, 1 Aug 2010 11:53:22 -0500

[8/1/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Making Steppers Contest DVD's
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
There's a certain amount of work involved in making a DVD. Some of the tasks are easier than others. For example shooting the video for a steppers contest video is a pretty straight forward job. Try to keep the couple that's competing on the floor in frame as well as you can, stay with the action, and keep the shot as tight as possible.
Steppers want to see those full body shots because they use the video not just for entertainment, but also for a learning tool. They may be competing in the next contest against you so you have an opportunity to see what they can do on the floor or you want to see how they executed "that move" and using the video with extreme close ups is the ideal tool for examining the mechanics of the move.
Unlike other types of shoots, there's not a lot of scripting, and the shooting schedule is pretty much defined by the contest. The audio is generally a real pain because most club DJ's don't understand about (or care) about fidelity because they're just looking for loudness (shame on them).
I'm not talking about a big production like this years World's Largest where there will be some big...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

7/31/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:32:41 -0500

[7/31/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Steppers Weekend Roundup
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
Friday night Club Dyamonds couldn't get any more packed. As a matter of fact by about eight there wasn’t a seat left (I know it's not the largest club) people wanted to see a good contest and you know what, that's what they got including a tie and a dance-off between Rado and Sherry and Eric and Tatiana in a battle for second place. Rado dazzled the crowd with footwork like a man possessed but the chemistry between Eric and Tatiana was obviously enough to earn the couple second place.
First place was won by Nikke and Torey. Nikke has an unorthodox dance style and every move he put down Torey countered and upped the ante. I personally believe it really was Torey's dancing skills that wowed the judges and won the contest for the couple. the contest was a nice warm-up for some who are getting into the World's Largest this year. I'll have the 2-Disc DVD of the contest done in very short order
DJ Eric E.T. Taylor made the "major announcement" to the crowd that he managed to keep under his hat for several after warming people up on Facebook. Eric is now a regular V-103 FM mixmaster who will be spinning steppers music Monday through Thursday at 7:45 on the Real show with Ramonski Luv and Joe Soto...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

7/30/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:50:27 -0500

[7/30/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Hotter Contest Final Tonight
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
Tonight J.E.P. Productions will present the finals of their "Hotter Than July" steppers contest at Club Dyamonds. I would suggest getting there early if you want a decent seat at the place tonight. There will be ten couples vying for the top spot and if the last preliminary is any indication, the place will be packed with supporters of the contestants as well as the rest of the steppers community that enjoy the competition that comes with each steppers contest.
I've heard several predictions over the last couple of weeks and if they indicate what kind of crowd that will be in the house we may just be in for one helluva contest! I won't make any predictions myself but with this one I wish I was a bookie because that's where the real money might just be in this contest. In other contest news, The WLSC is in Orlando FL this weekend for the Orlando Steppers Connection and Stylistic Steppers All White Affair Weekend.
I'll be shooting video of the finals, and I'll have the DVD ready in short order as I squeeze it in between another major video project I've been working on for the last month. I'll put a PayPal page up on SteppersUSA so you can order the 2 DVD set of the preliminaries and the finals.
Speaking of video, I've updated the YouTube pages on SteppersUSA and added another page too. When I have time I'll add more. Yesterday, YouTube announced they are now allowing videos of up to fifteen minutes in length so now we'll be able to all post longer videos on the most popular video sharing site on the planet...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

7/28/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:38:50 -0500

[7/29/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
More WLSC Changes and NCSSD In Boston
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
Earlier in the week Pete Frazier CEO of The Majestic Gents said, "If you qualified for the "Out of Town" category in the World's Largest Steppers Competition (WLSC), you're going to Chicago." Well, last night he extended the statement to include the beginner's category. As of Tuesday night, there were 15 participants in the beginner's category.
"It's good to see new blood coming into the contest and I want everyone to see all these new steppers show what they've got. I want them to be able to show stepping to their friends and family."
He did say there were more changes to come... We will have to see what's next. Tuesday was a wonderful display for the newest steppers in the game and they stepped to a full house at Mr. G's. In a related note, Feo and Candace withdrew from the competition. It's sad considering right after last years competition they specifically told me repeatedly they would be right back the next year. I'll leave it alone because it's time to spotlight others who will be participating and showing what they've got.
There are two organizations in the Boston area that are celebrating National Chicago Style Steppers Day (NCSSD). Even though I stopped adding cities to the map of the United States because of multiple events in some cities; and changes are happening at lightning speed. Each group is invited to submit an article about their organization and their involvement in the NCSSD event. This submission comes from the Original Steppers of Boston...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

7/27/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:37:38 -0500

[7/27/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Forward Into The Past
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
In May I moved into my 15th year of active involvement in the Chicago style steppers community and since that anniversary I've been reflecting on the changes I've observed and in some cases been involved in. Of course there are many people who have been part of this community many more years than I have been many of the steppers we see that have been long time steppers began shaping this dance when they were in High School.
Some have expressed to me the dance may have well saved their lives because without stepping they are positive they would have taken their lives in another direction.
When we talk about the dance, we often refer to it as a "grown folks dance" but the roots of the modern day dance we call stepping are anything but a "grown folks dance".
There have been and are some efforts to bring stepping to young people, and I've reported on them in this column but getting youth excited about a dance from 40 years ago is challenging at the very least.
One thing that has "stuck in my craw" over the years has been the constant exclamations by steppers from the time before me has been, "they're not stepping the same dance as we did"...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

7/26/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:24:55 -0500

[7/26/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
The Exception In The WLSC
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
"If you qualified for the "Out of Town" category in the World's Largest Steppers Competition (WLSC), you're going to Chicago." That's the statement Majestic Gents CEO Pete Frazier made this morning noting the exception made to the "Official Rules".
Frazier also hinted there is a possibility of more changes in the rules in this aspect for the other categories as well. Pointing to the economy and the cost of air travel Mr. Frazier explained, "Contestants, their families, and friends need to be able to make travel arrangements... and waiting for the last minute can be very expensive in booking airfare, hotels and so on." The most up to date official scores are posted on WLSContest.Com including this weekend's semi-finals in Los Angeles.
The final round of semi-finals (in Chicago) will start tomorrow (Tuesday) at Mr. G's with the last beginners category contestants hitting the floor attempting to qualify for the finals in September in Tinley Park, IL. Chicago's Fox television (channel 32) will be at the semi-final to capture the competition as well. This is the time when the competition usually heats up (during the last semi-finals)...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

7/24/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:09:17 -0500

[7/24/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Expanding Possibilities
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
Friday night I went to Club Dyamonds on a night that looked like the skies would open, the rain would pour down and the wind would blow us away. Surprisingly, we got some sprinkles and a little wind in Lynwood, IL during the four hours I was there. The set was a little light on attendance but I think weather and the DRD birthday set in Waukegan, and people going to Los Angeles played into that.
I'm going to backtrack a bit to a phone conversation I had with a promoter that evening before the Dyamonds party. We were talking about which parties and sets I was attending over the weekend. He told me he wasn't going to the same set (which is fine with me) but he brought up a good point. He said he was making it a point to visit parties he doesn't normally visit and plug at. He went on to explain that it's important to promote to more than your core audience who will probably make it to your party after the first time they see your flyer. He continued by giving me his take on keeping the push on to bring more potential to his party by appealing to the broadest possible audience and you can't do that by only plugging at the same places day in and day out...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

7/23/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:12:13 -0500

[7/23/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Taking Advantage?
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
I'm facing a full weekend (which is a normal state in the summer time) and I'm worn out just thinking about it. You have quite a few choices over the weekend too. On the West coast you can go to party with "Step On... Unlimited" as the group gets its weekend event under way tonight and they will have the World's Largest Steppin' Competition Semi-finals in Los Angeles. The official results will be posted on WLSContest.Com as we watch to see who will make it in the "Out Of Town" category. Remember only 10 couples will make it to the contest in Tinley Park in September and as it stands right now there are already ten couples in the category so someone will get bumped.
After looking at the rules I'm wondering if someone might try to RE-qualify to get a higher score. It could create interesting complications since I don't see a rule against trying to improve your score. What do you think? Should that be an option? Should people take advantage of the situation by dancing a second time to bring their score up to avoid being bumped? Is that exploiting the rules or is a case where competitors should be able to do anything they can to win?...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

7/22/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:22:32 -0500

[7/22/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Lot's Going On!
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
Sometimes when there's a lot going on I just don't know where to start. If you've visited SteppersUSA.Com or Facebook in the last day you'll notice I've responded to all of the messages I got asking about National Chicago Style Steppers Day (NCSSD) T-Shirts.
I'm not in a position to buy a bunch of shirts and pay a shop to warehouse and print my designs (I have a whole bunch (of designs) in my mind) so I did the best thing possible with all things considered. I used the Facebook Shirt Shop application. All I had to do was to create the design and upload it to the application and they take care of the rest. They have the shirts (in different colors for $2 extra), the equipment to print on the shirts and the whole thing cost's me the time to make the design and upload the file. They even ship for free. So if you want a National Chicago Style Steppers Day T-Shirt (they're about as "official" as they can be right now since I'm the guy who came up with the idea in the first place) visit the Facebook Shirt Shop application and order one or ten. If you're not on Facebook, I guess you can give someone who is the $15 to order one for you.
Tuesday night at Mr. G's at the World's Largest Steppers Competition (WLSC) New Skool Original semi-finals a camera man from Fox32 News came and shot some video of people stepping as DJ Raphael cranked the music up...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

7/20/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:31:48 -0500

[7/20/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Contest Secrets
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
As many of you (in Chicago) know on Friday, I finished taping the preliminaries of the J.E.P. Productions "Hotter than July" steppers contest. I just finished putting together the first DVD of the two DVD set (see the promo video below). Getting those shots from the floor really give you a different perspective from the shots people get from in the crowd.
I'll be taping tonight at the WLSC semi-finals at Mr. G's tonight where they are doing the first New Skool Original category. PS They just added Jeff Hendrick to the entertainment lineup for the finals.
I've seen my share of steppers contests through the years and have noticed more and more contestants learned many of the "secrets" many of the top known steppers have held close to the vest for many years.
Some of those "secrets" aren't really secret in the truest sense they're common sense while others require a deeper understanding of the process.
Choreography in a steppers contest; through the years there've been discussions about its use. On one hand there is the camp that says "real steppers" never dance to a routine or a choreographed plan because it detracts from what the dance is really about. On the other hand...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

7/19/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:14:19 -0500

[7/19/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
The Reason For The Day
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
People want to know the reason for the day and an email I got from Atlanta's Lamont Coy does a nice job of summing it up...
National Chicago Style Steppers Day Our Best Foot Forward
"The reason and purpose for such a day is to develop unity among steppers both locally and nationally. It is also a time to celebrate not only the dance, but the individual of the dance and that individual is you. From the beginner who has just had his/her first lesson to the pioneers who started it all, this day is as one of the city representatives put it, a day to celebrate "All things stepping." It is a time and once again an opportunity to celebrate a rich, diverse history and heritage of which we are all a part. It is also a period of introspection and reflection where we begin to look at where we've been, where we are now, where we want to go, and what we should look like during the journey. This day represents a moment in which we as one common body introduce ourselves to the rest of the nation and the world and invite everyone in to partake of something special and unique."...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

/17/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:17:10 -0500

[7/17/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Steppers Weekend Roundup
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
Today's Steppers Beat column is sponsored by: Chistepper.com, Dre & Company, & Ken Bedford Productions Present the Steppers Soul Series at the Alhambra Palace 1240 W. Randolph St. Chicago, IL on Sunday July 18th Order Tickets Now!
Steppers Weekend Roundup
Saturday Around The Country:
The Smooth Steppers of Memphis continue their Steppin' N Paradise 1st Annual Steppers Ball weekend, as does the Virginia Beach Steppers with their 3rd Annual White Party Weekend Social & Contest, in Atlanta C & B Productions have a set at Backstage, while the New York Chicago Style Steppers have their every other set at Rustic Tavern, the Detroit Copasetic Steppers are having their 5th Annual Hot Fun in the Summer Time party, In St. Louis, The STL314 Steppers have a set at Omega Centers, and the Miltown Smooth Steppers have a third Saturday set at the Masonic center. Chicago doesn't have any special events reported for this Saturday...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

7/16/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:14:25 -0500

[7/16/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Front Row Seats
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
Today's Steppers Beat column is sponsored by: Chistepper.com, Dre & Company, & Ken Bedford Productions Present the Steppers Soul Series at the Alhambra Palace 1240 W. Randolph St. Chicago, IL on Sunday July 18th Order Tickets Now!
There are 600 VIP seats at this years World's Largest Steppers Competition (WLSC). One full block, (150 seats 10 seats per table) are already reserved and 450 are up for grabs. The Majestic Gents are selling VIP tables for $500. Pete Frazier and crew are doing something different (for the steppers community) with a full seating chart which is posted on WLSContest.Com where when you place a VIP ticket order you can choose the table (by number) you want to sit at. The seating chart will be updated as tables fill up. One VIP ticket cost is $50. General admission will be at the back of the hall and will not have a choice when it comes to seating as the seating will be on a first come first served basis. General admission tickets are $30 for one ticket or $50 for two. Tickets can be purchased online at WLSContest.Com or MajesticGents.Net. Those VIP seats will go fast.
Steppers Weekend Roundup
Friday in the Chicago area:
Tonight's preliminary at the JEP Production Hotter than July (The old 3-G's Contest) is the last before the finals to be held in two weeks at Club Dyamonds in Lynwood, IL. The Elite Firemen will be...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

7/15/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:36:27 -0500

[7/15/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
What Are You Doing August 14th?
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
Today's Steppers Beat column is sponsored by: Chistepper.com, Dre & Company, & Ken Bedford Productions Present the Steppers Soul Series at the Alhambra Palace 1240 W. Randolph St. Chicago, IL on Sunday July 18th Order Tickets Now!
On one hand, people tell me the idea behind establishing the National Chicago Style Steppers day is a wonderful idea whose day is long overdue. On the other hand, there are those who call me crazy because the Chicago style steppers community is so fragmented, is so closed, is so (and the list continues).
In either case it's time. It's time to recognize the dance we all love and yes, the people who have and are continuing and expanding the rich experience we call Chicago style stepping.
August 14th is a day each and every stepper can honor the dance by doing what they love... they can go stepping. Many cities are putting together Chicago style steppers day dances, some are celebrating the entire weekend with picnics and workshops, and in one city they are celebrating the entire week...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers

7/14/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:56:33 -0500

[7/14/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Dispelled Myths
By Markie Bee
National Chicago Style Steppers Day
Send The Best Stepping Photos: BestPhotos@steppersusa.com
To send a plugger or Flyer Click Here
Contact Markie Bee: webmaster@steppersusa.com
Today's Steppers Beat column is sponsored by: Chistepper.com, Dre & Company, & Ken Bedford Productions Present the Steppers Soul Series at the Alhambra Palace 1240 W. Randolph St. Chicago, IL on Sunday July 18th Order Tickets Now!
One thing seems to be constant like the tick-tock of a clock or the sun rising in the eastern sky... when you talk to veteran Chicago style steppers who have been dancing over 20 years. They all counted before they learned to really dance. They didn't learn today's six or eight count methods because the methods didn't really exist back then.
They may have learned using a simple 123 or a left - right or a do as I do "counting" method but as it was explained to me it's all about teaching oneself muscle memory of the basic pattern of the dance which is at the core of what is Chicago style stepping.
These dancers all seemed to understand something that many of today's dancers and some instructors don't seem to comprehend.
If you can't train yourself to dance using the basic pattern from "muscle memory" you're not dancing you're just counting. In other words...Continued

Featured Plugger

Click flyer to see full sized Subscribe to our pluggers feed
Today's Pluggers