A Chosen Few: Step Dancing For God

March 30, 2011 - PRLog -- Stepping, a movement art form which consists of group percussive foot stomping and hand clapping, is inspired by African dance forms, military drill teams, doowop singers, and tap dance.  Developed by African American fraternities and sororities, stepping has now become popular in churches, schools, community events and contemporary dance films.
In the 2005 Urban Nutcracker by Anthony Williams, A Chosen Few’s performance was applauded by the Boston Globe for “its dynamic, high-kicking slap dance”.  This fall, I talked with Janille Hill, the founder of A Chosen Few Step Team.  

How did ACF get started?

JH:  When I first started stepping, I joined Alpha and Omega.  Then, Alpha and Omega went to Alpha and Omega’s A Chosen Few and then we took that further into a Christian Organization. ACF consists of four girls. They have practice once a month—six hours on Saturday, four to five hours on Sunday. Then we go on that weekend’s gig.

Where do you perform stepping?

JH: We perform at non-Christian gigs and Christian gigs.  It depends on what the gig is calling for.  Some events say “you can’t say Christ” so we believe the excellence of what we perform speaks volumes as well.  We performed in the Urban Nutcracker in 2005 and 2006.  My husband was a featured tap dancer so he helped us get involved.  We opened the show and were the ‘new group’.

Does your group also dance?
JH: Well, I believe in the excellence of stepping.  Step can stand alone.  A lot of step teams do songs and dance to tracks.  But we don’t dibble and dabble.  OUR BODIES ARE INSTRUMENTS.  We don’t step to tracks. I’m not a fan of dancing-stepping mixture.  If you’re stepping and it’s the worst part of the routine, then, why don’t you just dance! There are dancers that are great at dancing.  I mean, you don’t see ballet dancers throwing in krump movements…

Do you participate in competitions?
JH:  No, not so big into the competition.  When we step, we believe it is worship.  We step for God.  We have performed in competitions…placed 1st in 2 Citywide Talent shows.  We’re more of a contract step team.  We are a Christian organization.  Our goal is not to offend anyone.  Stepping is a vehicle…

I was impressed to find out members teach and host workshops for children.  Could you tell me about an experience?

JH:  I used to teach at the Harlem Children’s Zone Community Center.  I taught a step class there.  Then I worked with the DYS (Dept. of Youth Services) a couple different times.  They had a Bible Studies Class, and we came in as a ‘special’.  We created a curriculum.

Do you teach the history of stepping?     

JH:  It’s an important aspect.  You can’t teach where you are and where you’re going without knowing where you came from.  We do trainings too.  We teach step teams to get better and we teach beginners the basic movements and the definitions.  Our group uses a handbook.  

What if after a performance at a school, a few students came up to you and wanted to know how to start up a step team.  What advice would you give them?

JH:  If they’re novice steppers--not to push us--but I would have one of the members come and do training with them.  WE BELIEVE IN THE CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF EACH INDIVIDUAL ON THE STEP TEAM--NOT ONE WHO MAKES UP ALL THE STEPS. When they learn to make up steps, it builds self-esteem and longevity.  They do not depend on only one.  IT GIVES THEM MOMENTUM WITHIN THEMSELVES.  If not, they’re just left. It is hard. It’s taken us years to get where we are.  But we are instilling hope and confidence in coming up with steps. We help facilitate the creative process.  We also did a ‘women in business' workshop with stepping.

What does it mean to be a professional team within the step culture? Is there a hierarchy?
JH:  No hierarchy.  You get in where you fit  in and do whatever.  There is no police in the step culture.  There should be some type of standard.  You have basic movements…There are no outlets.  You can teach, perform, and do workshops, but there are no Broadway shows.  We are trying to make it so you can be a professional dancer.  If that means creating a show, then we do it.

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