From human jump roping, to blindfold stepping and midair splits – the biggest step show of the FAU school year did it all.
If you thought sororities and fraternities only threw toga parties and played beer pong, you’re sadly mistaken.
Not only did the men and women of the sororities and fraternities step, they also danced, sang and acted.
The latest step show brought the young and old together for a night – there were kids younger than 10 dancing to the music of the DJ.
Steppers came from five different colleges and city chapters to represent the National Pan-Hellenic Council’s (NPHC) Divine Nine fraternities and sororities, to possibly claim the winning trophy and to have a good time.
Although the audience was mostly filled with minorities, it wasn’t just for them. The Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium was sold out, more than 2,300 people showed up, and latecomers were offered standing or sitting room only. The crowd was dressed in its best – wearing stiletto pumps and fresh white sneakers.
“I went in the bathroom, and oh my gosh!” freshman Jasmine Bailey said. “I really saw how dressed up people got to come to the show. I felt underdressed.”
Even though this was the largest annual step show at FAU, it wasn’t big enough to keep Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. in the lineup.
They were absent so they could perform at other conferences and competitions, or because they couldn’t get permission, according to Maria Sutton, cultural coordinator of Program Board and the woman who put the entire show together.
The step show has been held at FAU traditionally for the past 12 years, and from the feedback Sutton received the show’s quality has only improved.
“There wasn’t a dull moment,” Bailey said, “or a time when I was like, eh, I should have stayed home. It was also educational.”
Benji Brown, 99 Jamz radio personality and comedian, hosted the event. Laughter erupted from the audience unceasingly as Brown made jokes about the frats and sororities.
Brown was chosen because the Program Board thought he would pull more people into the audience and hold the show down, according to Sutton.
The noncompeting Alpha Nu Omega Fraternity and Sorority, Inc., kicked off their stepping performance with a classroom setting backdrop. The boys were in khaki slacks and navy blue and yellow-striped sweaters, and ladies were in schoolgirl uniforms.
“We just went up there to have fun and minister the word of God,” Steven Francois, brother of Alpha Nu Omega said.
Phi Beta Sigma members were blindfolded steppers, who did a parody of Verizon and Truth commercials, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., did a tribute to Michael Jackson, featuring all of his eras.
Students were happy, but did complain about the length of the show, which lasted about three hours.
“It was good, but I thought it took far too long. There were too many things in between,” multimedia journalism major Ashley Fox said. “But it was interesting. I like to see the creativity.”
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the UCF chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. stole the show, each winning first place in their division. The Zetas’ 1920s performance was complete with flapper dresses, fishnet stockings and swing dancing.
In choir robes, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. stereotyped the antics of some churches by doing a skit that parodied Tyler Perry’s fictional character, Mable “Madea” Simmons.
“It feels good because when you work so hard for something, and you see it pays off, you feel at peace with yourself,” Amanda Phillips, a sister of the winning sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., said. “We tried to come back with a vengeance so they could see that Zeta Phi Beta is still here.”
