Stepping away winners

IU’s Phi Beta Sigma chapter is four for four.

The fraternity took home the top prize at the 26th Annual Statewide Step Competition for the fourth consecutive year Saturday at the IU Auditorium. The win secures a home-floor advantage for the team in 2011’s competition.

Despite inclement weather, step teams traveled to Bloomington from in- and out-of-state to compete in the competition.

The show began with host Vanessa Fraction, a comedian who has appeared in several films and the comedy specials “Def Comedy Jam” and “1st Amendment Stand Up.” Senior Janis Crawford, president of IU’s chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, said she was excited to be at the step show.

“We’re here to support Ohio State sisters in statewide,” she said.

She said the Indianapolis chapter had also come to cheer on the team.

The Ohio State team, which took second place and $1,000 prize in the sorority half of the competition, was participating for the first time.

Performances from Zeta Phi Beta, Dynasty Dance Team and Alpha Phi Alpha kept the audience cheering for the three-hour show. Alpha Phi Alpha’s Central State University chapter won first place for its performance with the theme “a day in church.”

After intermission, teams from two chapters of Phi Beta Sigma took the stage as they competed for their chance to be the host of next year’s event. Senior Jonathan Davenport, the IU chapter step master, admitted he was nervous before the performance.

“We started practicing in November,” he said. “We heard the Indy team was really good.”

Davenport, who said he enjoys the competitiveness of stepping, was relieved to win.
“Time to prepare for next year,” he said.

Phi Beta Sigma also used the show as an opportunity to present a scholarship and honor two women who have dedicated their work to help the community.

They honored Audrey McCluskey, director of the Neal-Marshall Black Cultural Center, and Viola Taliaferro, the first African-American judge in Monroe County. 

“This is a kind of modern-day folk dance,” Taliaferro said. “I can’t believe this show has been going on for 26 years and I never heard of it before.”

She said she enjoyed the acrobatic and synchronization of the fast, rhythmic
performances.

Junior Anthony Finnell, who was the coordinator of the step show, said the performance helped raise money for service projects on campus, scholarships and the March of Dimes Foundation.

“It’s good, clean fun,” Taliaferro said. “Young people all over the state of Indiana have this great opportunity to join together, network and have fun building lasting relationships.”