After months of intense preparation, Greeks are getting ready to show off their skills and compete at the annual Penn Relays Step Show.
The performance -- which will be held this Saturday at Irvine Auditorium -- will bring together members of the BiCultural Inter-Greek Council, the umbrella organization for Penn's historically black, Latino and Asian fraternities and sororities, for an evening of high-energy stepping.
"It's just something that's so unique to BIG-C organizations," Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Program Coordinator Larry Moses said. "Each organization has its own steps... the exciting part is to go see what variation they put on it."
Stepping traditionally incorporates a combination of synchronized dance steps and rhythmic percussion, stomping, clapping and chanting that is thought to have its roots in early African dances. Penn has been holding its annual show for over 10 years.
Saturday's event will feature seven to nine routines from BIG-C chapters in the Philadelphia area, in addition to performances by several other Penn groups -- including Onda Latina, a Latino dance troupe, and Inspiration, a coed a cappella group.
Members of Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorority, Inc., a historically Latino city-wide chapter of Temple University students, will be performing in the show for the first time.
There will also be a guest appearance by The Unknown Sigma Step team, a group of graduate brothers from the Philadelphia area who are currently the National Step Team Champions.
Former BIG-C president and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., sister Tia Rideout, who performed in last year's show, stressed the importance of stepping for the black Greek community.
"I love stepping," the College senior said. "Stepping is really a big part of African-American fraternity and sorority tradition... it's a lot of hard work and dedication."
Last year, all three of the Penn chapters that competed performed well. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., both walked away with the top award, and Zeta Phi Beta claimed second place.
Jason Wiley, the newly-elected BIG-C treasurer and an Alpha Phi Alpha brother, said he is confident that his chapter will be successful again this year.
"I'm very excited," Wiley said. "We're trying to defend our crown."
This year, the fraternity's routine will feature steppers from its chapters at both Penn and Temple, as well as two alumni brothers. According to Wiley, the group has been rehearsing since December -- with up to five practices of increasing length each week.
"We have been working really hard," Wiley said. "We think we can do it."
For some steppers, the annual show is a way to express chapter pride. Each performance features a "signature step" and chants that steppers incorporate into their routines in honor of their organization.
Alpha Phi Alpha brother and Temple University senior Nicholas Mingle -- who will perform in the BIG-C's show for the third time this Saturday -- said that each year, performers try to add "a twist to it to modernize [the routines] for the times."
"We try to give something new every year," Mingle said, explaining that the goal is to give the audience the best experience possible. "We try to make it as entertaining as we can."
Many routines also include costumes and a variety of props -- ranging from canes to knives. This year, Alpha Phi Alpha's performance will incorporate chairs into their acts.
While the pressure of performing can be intense at times, steppers say that they enjoy the excitement of the show.
"When you start, there's always nervousness," Mingle said. "If you have fun, then you execute well."
Weldon McMillan, an Alpha Phi Alpha brother and former BIG-C vice president who stepped in last year's performance, echoed Mingle's sentiments.
"It was a great feeling," McMillan said. "It was just like a lot of adrenaline rushing through."
Each routine ranges from 10 to 15 minutes long. Last year's show -- which attracted hundreds of spectators -- lasted for over four hours.
McMillan said that the audience typically includes students and alumni from throughout Philadelphia and the tri-state area and added that he expects a great turnout for Saturday evening's performance.
The BIG-C will also host a block party at Wynn Commons from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Tickets for the show are being sold this week on Locust Walk and at OFSA for $10 and will be available for $15 at the door. Proceeds will go towards the BIG-C's community service and scholarship fund.
