A rhythmic roar of pounding feet and clapping hands can be heard with the proud chanting of brotherhood and sisterhood, and an array of precision movements are executed in complete unison.  The University sororities and fraternities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council work diligently to achieve each ideal motion in a step show.”Stepping is like an entire band, but only using your body,” said Terrell Carter, computer science senior and former step master for Phi Beta Sigma.Stepping is an expression of physical motion and sound which combines dance and drill movements. Step interwove the two forms to create its own entity. Skills needed to succeed at stepping include basic dance technique, capability to mirror and repeat beats and hand-eye coordination, Carter said.Stepping is one of the only two dance forms which are completely American, said Christine Chrest, University dance adjunct teacher.Groups like The Temptations and The Four Tops inspired students during the ’50s to sing and mimic the steps of their musical idols. Stepping has evolved from those roots into what it is today. Phi Beta Sigma and Omega Psi Phi were the fraternities that created stepping, Carter said.Some moves used in stepping found inspiration through the Welly Dance, a traditional South African dance done by laborers wearing Wellington boots, CBS’s Caitlin Johnson said in a 2007 article. Stepping is not taught in classes like other dances and drills taught in classes, but rather it’s created in a student environment, Chrest said.Songs usually inspire new steps. Foot stomping creates a strong bass line while hand clapping creates a softer sound. The pattern of stomping and clapping is designed to match the beat of the song, Carter said.”I wish I had rhythm like that,” said Claire Sauls, business sophomore. “It’s so cool to watch. It always gets me really pumped.”The sororities and fraternities use stepping to show pride in their organizations. The groups incorporate chants and varying hand symbols in their routines to show off their Greek letters, he said.Many of the chants and steps are signature for a particular sorority or fraternity and can be seen worldwide. The steps are passed down through the generations and are done with great pride, said Samantha White, Delta Sigma Theta president.”Stepping is something that has become a tradition in each of our organizations and something we each hold very dear,” said Aislinn Herrera, member of Gamma Pi. Step teams begin working on their routines daily about a month before a show takes place. After learning the step, the teams spend their time conditioning and perfecting the routines. The steps must flow naturally for all of the performers, Carter said.”It’s hard work and dedication, but it’s worth it in the end,” said Jasmine Jackson, general studies senior and Delta Sigma Theta member.The step teams perform at various competitive step shows, where performances last 10 to 15 minutes and at campus yard shows, where performances last four to six minutes. The teams participate in four to six shows each year. The competitions can reward prizes as large as $2,000, but on-campus shows provide a different type of award. “We step to win, but sometimes there is no prize,” White said. ”The winner is chosen by word of mouth and receives bragging rights.” Step shows typically open with dance, which is followed by a skit and then stepping. The shows usually incorporate a theme, costumes and props, White said.But White said participating in step has one drawback.”Some people think that stepping is all we do, but we are capable of so much more.” White said. ”We use stepping as a way for exposure, an avenue for people to see the other things we do.”————Contact Lindsay Nunez at [email protected]