Chanting, stomping and dancing reverberated through the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity house last night -- but the frat brothers were not responsible for the noise.
The performers were members of the Unknown Sigma StepTeam -- a professional step team organized by Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs official Larry Moses.
The 15-year-old Unknown Sigma is not affiliated with the University -- though the members say they certainly enjoy practicing in Penn's fraternity houses. The team is made up of brothers who graduated from black-interest fraternity Phi Beta Sigma at universities across the country.
The dancers travel almost every weekend to perform, sometimes as far afield as Los Angeles and Florida. Members have danced at more than 150 events nationwide, performed in 47 states, and have won numerous national championships.
But every week they return to Penn fraternity houses to rehearse.
This is only a part-time job for those in the group -- the team includes about 12 professionals with full-time jobs, including a high school assistant principal, teachers and a New Jersey state trooper.
"We juggle our schedules to make it happen. ... It's a full-time passion, but it's a part-time job," said Moses, director of the BiCultural Inter-Greek Council, which is made up principally of black- and Latino-interest fraternities and sororities.
Moses first got involved with Unknown Sigma about 10 years ago when the team contacted him to help with promotion. He began to work with it more closely, until he eventually became its producer.
When the group -- which used to practice in Center City -- had trouble finding a place to practice this year, Moses turned to his full time OFSA job for a solution.
This year, the step group is bringing its routines to the Phi Kappa Sigma and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity houses.
Moses said that practicing at the fraternity houses has allowed him to combine his two jobs.
"I had a little trepidation [at first with my] two worlds colliding ... [but it's] worked out really well," he said.
Moses added that the fraternity brothers have been supportive and helpful.
And Unknown Sigma isn't the only one benefiting from the arrangement.
Moses said that the group's practices have raised cultural awareness of step among fraternity members.
"Most of them had never been exposed to stepping before," Moses said.
Interfraternity Council President and Phi Kappa Sigma brother Max Dubin said that he has enjoyed watching the dancers perform flips across the first floor of the house.
"They're cool guys. ... They take it very seriously when they're actually in rehearsal mode," the College junior said.
Phi Kappa Sigma President and College junior Josh Berman said that he particularly enjoys a dance the group performs with canes.
"We're grateful to have them. It's cool to open the house up to different kinds of stuff," he said.
Members perform their dances in a variety of costumes, including Chinese, cowboy and Kung Fu-themed get-ups.
Step was a part of Moses's life before his involvement with Unknown Sigma. His first exposure to it came when he was about six.
"I always appreciated [step] as an art. ... It's a very spirited performance," he said.
Moses said that stepping has a rich tradition among black fraternities and sororities and that he was happy to bring it to Penn.
Though Unknown Sigma has been a successful performer across the country since its advent, its intensity has increased this year.
The team is participating for the first time in "Stomping on the Yard," an organization that sponsors about 25 college step shows around the country each year.
The Unknown Sigma will be performing at the Penn Relays in April.
"I say this without hesitation: They are the best step team in the world," Moses said.
There is a "tremendous reaction wherever we go. ... We are always the headline [and] people are amazed by the skill we have," he said.
