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Stepping forward with Step Up Ur Game

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When Lora Fitzgerald stood up in front of the teens filling the bleachers of the Bowie Community Center gym on Friday November 4, she explained to them why they were there that evening. At this event, the beginning of the second annual Step Up Ur Game Step Conference, teens would do more than just socialize with other steppers. The conference included a demonstration performance on Friday evening as well as a workshop for the teens during the day Saturday. Naming organizations such as Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, and Alpha Phi Alpha, Fitzgerald told the teens Friday about the origin of stepping—in college fraternities and sororities. “We want you to see where you get it from,” she said. Stepping, a type of dance involving using one’s body to create percussion with footsteps, claps and spoken word, has become increasingly popular among Prince George’s County teens, who learn how to do it from their peers. Sixteen-year-old Chicola Miles said she got into stepping after she watched her friends do it. “They’re just good,” she said, “so I was like, ‘yeah I want to be good like that too.’” The Step Up Ur Game Conference, while allowing teens to meet with fellow steppers and do what they enjoy, also gave them the opportunity to learn more about this type of dancing. “I heard it’s supposed to be good steppers,” said 13-year-old Tranel Robinson about the dancers presenting at the conference, “so I wanted to see them step so I can fix myself.” By providing the teens with a setting in which to improve their stepping, the dancers at Step Up Ur Game were also able to promote the benefits of learning to step well. During the performance on Friday, Fitzgerald explained that by becoming a better stepper, teens can later use their skills as a part of a step fraternity, sorority, or other college organization. By getting the idea now, teens who are interested in stepping may be more motivated to continue into higher education so they can stay involved.