The smooth sounds of R&B can be heard outside classrooms in the Huey P. Long Fieldhouse on Thursday nights while participants learn the basics of Chicago Steppin’.
 
Chicago Steppin’, an urban ballroom dance is the topic of a new University leisure class. 
The dance originated in Chicago and dates back to the jitterbug, according to University alumnus and Chicago Steppin’ class instructor Christopher Jarrell.
The dance was brought back to life after the disco era and came to life in the Midwest during the ‘80s, Jarrell said.
The dance spread outside Chicago around 2000, and R. Kelly truly revived the form with his 2003 song, “Step in the Name of Love,” Jarrell said.
Chicago Steppin’ allows dancers to express themselves, he said.
“The footwork doesn’t change. It’s all about individual style,” Jarrell said. “The song dictates how you dance, and that’s what makes it unique.”
Jarrell learned the dance style in 2007 from a couple who moved to Baton Rouge from Chicago, and since then about 100 “steppers” have begun practicing the dance in Baton Rouge, he said.
Jarrell currently teaches Chicago Steppin’ classes at the YMCA and through BREC, which operates park and recreation facilities in East Baton Rouge Parish. He said he wanted to teach the class at the University because his passion is to expose the dance to as many people as possible.
“I wanted to come to LSU because I graduated from here and I saw an avenue in leisure classes,” Jarrell said.
Coordinator of Leisure Classes Julee Blanchard said she is impressed with the dance.
“It was unique, and I’ve never heard of it,” she said. “It’s a different dance. It’s the twist they put on it.”
The class has nine people registered with a maximum capacity of 25, according to Jarrell.
Though the class has half the size of a normal dance class, Blanchard is hopeful.
“We usually cancel a lot of first-time offerings, so this class seems promising,” Blanchard said.
Johnnie Jones, a participant in the class, said he was excited to hear about Chicago Steppin’.
“I saw it performed before, and when I saw it being offered with the leisure classes, I signed up,” Jones said.
 
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Contact Claire Caillier at [email protected]