Black Greeks step out, show off

They didn’t need music to show of their steps.

Saturday night at Soldiers and Sailors… They didn’t need music to show of their steps.

Saturday night at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, black fraternities and sororities stepped out for the first annual Steel City Step Show.

Hosted by Damon Williams, of the show “ComicView” on Black Entertainment Television, and co-hosted by Anji from the WAMO morning show, the event brought sororities and fraternities from other universities to compete with Pitt’s own steppers.

Proceeds from the show benefited multiple sclerosis charities and a scholarship fund.

After the national anthem and the black national anthem were sung, the East Side Stepping Soldiers from Peabody High School opened the show.

Using their hands, shoulders, thighs and the ground, the East Side Stepping Soldiers gave the audience a taste of the stomping and slapping they were about to experience.

Anji then announced that each of the competing sororities and fraternities would have 14 minutes to show the judges their steps. The panel of judges was selected from the competing sororities and fraternities.

The brothers of Pitt’s Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity were the first act, opening with the Lion King’s “Circle of Life” before starting their steps.

“Tonight we are going to show you all how to step,” one of the brothers informed the audience.

Cornell’s chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha followed the Alpha Phi Alpha brothers. The sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha wore black suits and declared themselves “Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.”

During their act, the sisters performed part of their step routine blindfolded.

The sisters of Pitt’s Delta Sigma Theta stepped to an ’80s theme, wearing off-the-shoulder shirts with the word “delta” stenciled in pink across the front.

Dressed in white suits, the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi drove the ladies wild when they took off their blazers. Using fake candy canes, the brother performed a choreographed cane toss in their routine. They ended their act by throwing red panties up on stage.

“It’s all about making sure the audience gets into it,” said David Latimore, one of the participants from Kappa Alpha Psi.

From Bowling Green University, the brothers of Phi Beta Sigma proclaimed, “You gotta be smooth” to be a brother in their fraternity. Dressed in yellow jumpsuits, they informed the crowd that they have not lost a show since 1993.

Claiming that the only real competition they have is themselves, the brothers danced against each other, then did all of the steps in reverse.

The Zeta Phi Beta sisters from Penn State University did a parody of American Idol called “American Step Idol.”

Ending the show, Pitt’s Omega Psi Phi brothers stepped in camouflage pants and golden shoes. They performed the “worm” and the “canopy” in their stepping routine.

The brothers of Phi Beta Sigma did not destroy their winning steak and won first place in the men’s competition. Alpha Kappa Alpha sisters won first place for the women. The prize was a $1,000 in cash.

“[It was] a good event to bring everyone together to see what [black] Greek life is like,” said Darryl Peek, one of the organizers for the event.

Ron Coursey, president of National PanHellenic Council and brother of Omega Psi Phi, also helped organize the event.

“It was beautiful to see the minority community in Pittsburgh come together like this,” Coursey said.