Step n Stroll description

Steppin

Stepping is a style of dance that uses the dancer’s body as an instrument to produce percussive beats, rhythms and sounds.  Steppers also use other items to make beats such as canes, machetes, and other props.  Stepping has elements of many styles of dance including: African, Dancehall, Tap, Hip Hop, and Latin, to name a few.

One ancestor of stepping is a dance style called Gumboot. Gumboot dancing originated in the gold mines of South Africa in the late 19th century.  The African miners were forbidden to speak so they communicated through beats made with their gumboots and the shackles that were placed on them so they would not escape.  Combing tribal  dances and percussive sounds the dance Gumboot was born. 

  



Many tribes from Africa and the Americas had forms of stepping in their tribal dances.  It was a form of art and entertainment for the people.  For many it was also a form of communication during the times of slavery.

Stepping became popular again when the African American Fraternities and Sororities started stepping in the 1950’s and Latino organizations in the 1970’s.  Steps teams were formed by “brothers” or “sisters” from the same organization.  These step teams would compete against other fraternities and sororities often for a prize.  In these shows teams would also use organizational chants, skits, and themes to tell a story.


Steppin in Television Shows              Steppin in Feature Films   

Showtime at the Apollo                                  School Daze (1988)

A Different World                                              Drumline (2002)                              

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air                        How She Move (2007)                        

Sister Sister                                                   Stomp The Yard (2007)                 

America's Best Dance Crew   Stomp The Yard 2: The Homecoming (2010)

Dancing with the Stars                                                      

So You Think You Can Dance                            
BET's 106 & Park                                        Steppin by Music Artist 
MTV's TRL                                         Sean Paul- Get Busy MusicVideo
Ellen Show                             Fergie- Fergalicios Music Video & VH1 Awards

BET Awards                                                   Ne-Yo- World Tour

VH1 Awards                              Ciara- Gimme Dat Music Video & Ellen show

NAACP Image Awards                       Chris Brown- Grammy Awards

Grammy Awards                   Justin Beiber- Somebody to Love Music Video
                                       Young Jeezy- Crazy World Music Video & BET Awards

                                       Willow Smith- Whip My Hair Music Video & Ellen show

Strollin

Strolling, also known as party walking is a one line formational dance routine performed by most Black, Latino, and Multicultural Fraternities and Sororities.  You can see Greek Organizations strolling at most college parties or step/stroll competitions.  Similar to their pledge process, individuals are lined up and stroll in one line to resemble the ancestors who were enslaved and could only walk in one line due to the shackles that were placed on them.

Dance Styles in Strollin      Strollin in Feature Films            Strollin on TV Stepping                           School Daze (1988)              Showtime at the Apollo

Hip Hop                            Mac and Me (1988)                A Different World

Dance Hall                        Drumline (2002)          The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

House                                How She Move (2007)               Sister Sister

B-More Club                    Stomp the Yard (2007)

Salsa                    Stomp the Yard 2:The Homecoming (2010)

Reggaeton

African

Funk

Street Jazz

and many more....