Soulja Boy headlines step competition

When asked why he likes performing at IU, Soulja Boy Tell ‘em’s response was short and sweet: “I can tell you guys like to party.”

However, the party was in short supply on Saturday night. The Sprite Step Off qualifying round, held at a parking lot just north of Assembly Hall, drew a less-than-impressive crowd, with people coming and going throughout the day.

The event was one of 30 qualifying rounds in 25 cities around the country this month. It was an all-day event, lasting from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.  

A majority of the day was devoted to the dance competition.

Three fraternities and three sororities each performed a step routine, four of which were IU chapters.

“We have been working on our step for three weeks,” Alpha Phi Alpha President Veldez Joshua said. “Now we have to get back to work to get ready for the next round.”

IU’s Alpha Phi Alpha chapter was awarded second place and will move on to the regional semifinals Nov. 7 at Ohio State University.

The second- and third-place finishers will attend the next round, while the two first-place winners will advance directly to the regional finals in Chicago.

IU’s Alpha Kappa Alpha and Alpha Phi Alpha from Central State were the champions.

“We have worked hard,” AKA member Jasmine Starks said. “But to win the national championship like we want to, we are going to put forth more tears, more sweat and more blood.”

According to a Sprite press release, “College greek stepping is a mix of foot movements, handclaps and voice chants.”

Steps are historically performed by African-American Greek letter organizations, but this form of cultural dancing has now extended to a variety of other multicultural fraternities, including Latino and Asian groups, according to the statement.

After the competition and the awards, the event became a concert setting, and Soulja Boy took the stage.

The concert was televised and was expected to have a high turn out. On the contrary, the crowd that formed for the concert portion of the event was barely larger than the crowd during the day.

“They advertised for it so much on 96.3,” freshman Jennifer Stebbins said. “But I didn’t see it advertised once on campus. I’m not surprised there’s hardly anyone here.”

Starks, who is the director of international and cultural events for the Union Board and also the organizer of the event, said publicity was the responsibility of Sprite.

Though it may not have been the “party” Soulja Boy expected, he said it was still a good time.

“The performance went well,” he said. “It wasn’t a very large crowd, but I got the response I wanted.”

Sprite Step Off
First-place teams in both categories advance to the regional finals, while second and third place must advance past the regional semifinals first.

Fraternities
1st: Alpha Phi Alpha (Central State)
2nd: Alpha Phi Alpha (IU)
3rd: Phi Beta Sigma (IU)

Sororities
1st: Alpha Kappa Alpha (IU)
2nd: Zeta Phi Beta (IU)
3rd: Zeta Phi Beta (Miami University)

Future rounds
CENTRAL QUALIFYING ROUND
WHEN Saturday
WHERE Ballpark Village Softball Field outside Busch Stadium,
St. Louis

REGIONAL SEMI-FINAL ROUNDS
WHEN Oct. 3
WHERE University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.
WHEN Nov. 7
WHERE Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

REGIONAL FINAL ROUND
WHEN Nov. 21
WHERE The Regal Theater, Chicago