LSU’s National Panhellenic Council hosted its annual Homecoming Step Show on Friday, Oct. 10, where eight fraternities and sororities competed for a cash prize at the Union Theater.
“It’s a big representation of Black culture, especially in college,” Alpha Kappa Alpha member Ryan Rice said on the importance of having a step show. “It displays the diversity at LSU, shows the historical legacy of the Divine Nine and highlights just how large and impactful our community is, as all nine organizations that make up the National Panhellenic Council are active on LSU’s campus.”
The NPHC is an overarching organization which comprises nine historically African American fraternities and sororities, which are referred to as the Divine Nine.
On being a member of a D9 organization, Omega Psi Phi member Craig Walton Jr. said it’s been an important part of his time at LSU.
“It’s allowed me to be more involved on campus and in the community,” Walton said.
Kicking off the night was the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., known as the Nupes. Their performance told a story of escaped convicts “charged with public displays of pimping,” evading the police.
The group highlighted their talents with canes, adding to the sonic impact of the synchronized footwork. Canes are an especially important part of the Kappa Alpha Psi legacy, representing gentlemanship, playing homage to Black history and reflecting the values of the organization.
With songs like “Shot Callin” by YoungBoy Never Broke Again and “Wipe Me Down” by Trill Family, the Nupes gave an engaging performance.
Up next were the members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., who constructed a Jumanji-inspired show where they had to complete three rounds of stepping to transport themselves out of a video game and back into real life.
Starting with “Diva” by Beyoncé and ending with “Turn The Beat Up” by Trill Fam, the group gave an absolutely electric performance. With strength and endurance at the core of every step, they proved to encapsulate the energy of their unofficial mascot: the elephant.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., known as the Alphas, followed with a show centered on the Creed films. Making reference to a viral edit of the movies, the performance started with “a good man with a broken heart” by LoVibe, a remix of a Kendrick Lamar track. The edits utilized sharp beats to accentuate physical moments, such as punching. This effect was similarly used by the Alphas in their performance.
The organization creatively took advantage of coordinated stomping and illustrative choreography to represent several rounds of a boxing match. Toward the end of the performance, they grounded the act by taking a diegetic ad break with the NOLA bounce version of the viral Jet2Holiday sound.
Next to have the spotlight was the Iota Phi Beta Fraternity Inc. Called the Iotas, the members performed a story based on the 2003 movie “Holes,” where young boys are forced to dig holes at a detention camp in a desert.
“You’ve got to dig” has become one of the most recognizable chants in the Iotas performances, making the story all the more relevant.
Succeeding were the members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc, known as the Zetas. Their performance was a play on “The Breakfast Club,” where the group of eclectic characters have to spend detention together.
The Zetas used their story setting brilliantly, with the detention being one line of chairs. When the characters began embracing their proximity, they started bonding by making beats on each other’s legs. As the story continued, this became a gorgeous chorus of leg patting, foot stomping and chanting.
Up next was the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., whose members are referred to as Ques. Taking inspiration from hit horror film “Sinners,” the organization retold the story through the lens of step. The Ques referred to the film with the lines like “Nah, we’re cousins” and calling out their “who’s that knocking on my door” chant, playfully spinning the idea of vampires having to be invited in.
Members of the group changed costumes throughout the performance, ridding their dapper suits for bloodied undershirts. This imagery bore a striking resemblance to the film in question. The performance ended with a Que, portraying Cornbread, playing the trombone as the rest of the group finished stepping.
Following the captivating performance was Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., with the Steppers University. Nicknamed the Sigmas, this performance followed a group of young adults learning the history of stepping.
The educational show highlighted the importance of heritage as it described the African origin of stepping, as well as the history of stepping with canes. According to the show, Sigmas were the first fraternity to incorporate them into their performances.
Rounding out the night was the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., who opened with “LET HER COOK” by GloRilla. The members, referred to as AKAs, had to step in order to activate a golden ivy to affirm being the “ultimate Alpha Woman.”
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. was the first Black Greek-letter sorority created, founded in 1908. During their show, they prioritized messages of leadership, morality and legacy.
With each round of stepping, the ivy glowed more and more until it was completely illuminated. To round out the performance, the group strolled to “That’s What They Like” by Boosie Badazz.
“There’s only one king and queen of the stage in the step show,” Omega Psi Phi member Charles James IV said. After the AKAs performed, it was time to find out who would take the crown home.
At the end of the night, an esteemed panel of judges, who are all members of D9 organizations themselves, came together to crown one fraternity and one sorority as the winners of the Step Show. The Que’s “Sinners” show alongside the Delta’s Jewel-Manji show took the crowns.
“We put a lot of time and effort into our shows,” Omega Psi Phi member Demetrius Rowland said. “To come out victorious was a feeling like no other.”
Though the curtains closed on NPHC’s 2025 Step Show, each stomp, clap and chant echoed the living legacy of the Divine Nine. This event continues to be more than a competition; it is a celebration of heritage, unity and passion that is at the core of each of the organizations represented.
