Sororities prepare for Alpha Phi Alpha's STEP competition

With the Nov. 15 performance date quickly approaching, University of Richmond's five Panhellenic sororities are working overtime to prepare for the fifth-annual STEPPING 101 competition, hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

The event is a dance competition that pits teams representing Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi against one another to compete for a $500 top prize, along with a year's worth of bragging rights. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Alice Haynes Room, the women will present the routines they have prepared under the direction of their step coaches and group leaders. The roughly 10-minute performances will be judged by Richmond

professors, who will be judging creativity and synchronicity, as well as adherence to the "That '70s Show" theme.

The inspiration for the step competition was to organize a Greek gathering where organizations that do not usually hold programs together can converge for a worthy cause, Carlos Cotman said. Cotman is the president of the Upsilon Gamma chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the first intercollegiate fraternity established by African-Americans. He has been especially busy in preparation for the competition.

"There is a lot of preparation that goes into the event," Cotman said. "We have to ensure that all the Panhellenic council sororities have stepmasters. We also have to ensure that we have a venue and proper incentives to want to participate."

Cotman explained that most teams have a sister as a captain to handle the internal affairs regarding the event, but each team is also assigned a stepmaster, whose role is to "guide them to glory" through their proven stepping ability, Cotman said.

Although the event's proceeds go to the March of Dimes organizations and other philanthropic organizations chosen by the winning sorority, the women have been prepping as if much more were on the line.

"We've had three two-hour practices per week," said Emily Martin, captain of the Tri Delt step team. "But since it's the final week, we have two-hour practices every night this week." Even with the additional pressure of being the reigning champions of the event, Martin added that her girls cannot get too comfortable, although she loves the way that her team has been gelling. "It's a big deal," she said. "Being captain can get very stressful. But the girls on the team have helped me out a lot."

"Theta has been involved with STEP 101 since it started," said Dana Urban, a member of Theta's team. "The lovely girls from UR's chapter of Delta Sigma Theta are our coaches, and they came up with an incredible routine, taught it to us, encouraged us and practiced with us."

Urban said Theta has also been putting a great deal of time into their practices and that the experience has been bringing them even closer together. "Our practices really exemplify so much of sisterhood--having fun, supporting one another, helping each other, learning together," she said.

Emma Mulford, a member of DG's step team, noted that they began practicing as far back as two weeks before Fall Break, with about three practices each week. As a dancer outside of just the stepping competition, Mulford is excited for the opportunity for her and her sisters to perform.

"I think a lot of people join their sorority's step team because of how much fun it is," Mulford said. "It's competitive, but we all want to put on a good show." All of her dancing experience might not translate directly to STEPPING 101 success, though; she said stepping was a completely different challenge to conquer. "I've done lots of different dance competitions and performances, but I think the step show is a really unique experience," she said.

In the past, the event had a registration fee for the sororities that wished to get involved, but Alpha Phi Alpha is trying a new approach this year. Each participating team must purchase a minimum of 45 tickets at the price of $8 per ticket, a price tag of $360. The sororities are then encouraged to resell the tickets, ultimately leading to a larger philanthropic donation, as well as a packed audience for the women up on the stage.

Attendance at the event is open to all, not just members of Greek organizations.

Contact reporter Jacob Steinfield at jacob.steinfield@richmond.edu