The sounds of stomping and clapping filled the River Center Arena Friday evening as the ten University sororities competed in the annual “Step Up or Step Aside Step Show.”
Step is a collection of rhythms made by using the hands and feet. The women could also use props to create other rhythms and sounds.
Judges consisted of alumni and Greek Life members. They watched and graded each sorority, and at the end of evening, Zeta Tau Alpha was awarded the coveted first place trophy. Kappa Delta won the second place award, and Delta Zeta came in third place.
The women of Zeta Tau Alpha rushed on stage and crowded around the trophy, hugging and screaming. Other members of Zeta Tau Alpha and their loved ones hurried to the stage to share their congratulations.
Psychology sophomore Jessica Macaluso and dental hygiene sophomore Amanda Fertitta coached Zeta Tau Alpha.
The pair came up with the choreography, music and costumes for the performance.
“I think the best feeling about [winning] is that we’re not here for the trophy,” Macaluso said. “We’re here, and this brings us together.”
Fertitta and Macaluso said the group started practicing the second week of school for about two days a week. The practices lasted for two hours, but Macaluso said they worked for a longer time last week.
Each sorority was coached by a fraternity in the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Macaluso said Delta Sigma Theta coached Zeta Tau Alpha.
“They pushed us so hard, and they always gave us so much encouragement and so much confidence,” she said.
The show opened up with a step performance by the men of Phi Delta Theta. Dressed as basketball players, the men created a story of competition between the “Old School” and the “New School.” The two groups competed against each other, inciting cheers.
After the men’s performance, the sororities gave their performances, each with a theme. Each sorority chose costumes and music to illustrate its story.
In Zeta Tau Alpha’s performance of “Get Crowned,” the women attempted to steal a crown guarded by two cops. Eventually, they all ended up behind bars for their crimes and took off their glittery shirts to reveal black and white striped shirts.
In one of the highlights of Zeta Tau Alpha’s performance, the women lined up side by side, and every other person stood on her head while the woman beside her held on to her legs. The ones standing on the head used their hands to create stomping patterns, which caused the crowd to erupt in loud cheers.
Delta Zeta followed the theme of “The Matrix” and dressed in long black coats with black sunglasses and their hair pulled tightly back. Their performance consisted of many slow-motion, electronic movements.
Kappa Delta performed a military routine, acting out physical training and exercises all in a rhythmic manner. The performance included drill lines, pushups, rope crawling, rifles and marching.
At one point, all of the women fell on their backs, stomped their feet and clapped their hands in different patterns.
‘I think the best feeling about [winning] is that we’re not here for the trophy. We’re here and this brings us together.’
