He currently conducts classes in his dance studio in las vegas, nv. Learn the original chicago style of stepping in an open, friendly atmosphere. We will honor the dance by showing due respect to its history and culture through our efforts to perpetuate the dance and bringing it to as many people as we can by all possible means. Our goal is to create a complete living timeline with the history of chicago style stepping. It is the social history of chicago s african american social life. Chicagostyle stepping has gained popularity, particularly in the urban neighborhoods of america. Steppin out dance studio is proud to provide a positive, professional and enjoyable dance experience. Chicago style steppin is composed of 10% technique and 90% style. Its the style element that makes this such an addictive dance.
The pattern consists of a double and two syncopated triples. Ive been looking at books on black dance as part of a larger study of black music and culture. Look for us on meetup for classes, workshops and event schedule. Chicago dance is the place where innumerable professional instructors, students and dance studio owners in chicago and around the us received training, taught and studied. Loves chicago steppin and have been dancing and teaching chicago steppin for 22 years, teaching for 17 years.
This partner dance is the perfect way for grown folks to have a good time. Chicago style stepping, also known as steppin is an urban dance that originated in chicago and continues to evolve while defining its unique style and culture within the context of mainstream swing dance. Although steppin is nationally known, it is native to chicago. Chicago style stepping makes reference to other urban styles of dance found throughout. Steppin is as much a part of the africanamerican communitys culture and history as is its music from the early days of jazz, and rhythm n blues up to the.
Chicagostyle stepping, also known as steppin is an urban dance that originated in chicago and continues to evolve while defining its unique style and culture within the context of mainstream swing dance. These are my favorite books on the history of swing i have enjoyed them immensely. Steppers flow dance group, virginia beach, virginia. We also wanted to give recognition to chicago as the stepping capital of the world, the city and its people. Assembled from the vast catalog of steppers cuts, smooth grooves. Chicago style stepping steppin is an urban ballroom couples dance with roots in the neighborhoods of the city it was named for. This is a group for anyone interested in chicago steppin beginner, intermediate and advance. Styles of steppin founder and lead, catherina brown traveled to chicago, the steppin mecca, to compete in the 2010 worlds largest steppin competition, where the best of the best steppers nationwide compete for trophy and a purse. Created by chris thompson and starring bella thorne and zendaya, the show follows the adventures of cece jones bella thorne and rocky blue zendaya as they star as background dancers on a local show, shake it up chicago.
Its well known on the south side and in many midwestern cities with a significant african american population but im curious if the greater chicago community is familiar with this. Chicago dance was very accommodating to our schedule, and i mean it when i say very. Stepping is a tradition that has been passed on from generation to generation. Chicago style steppin the music phenomenon record collector. Chicago steppin instructional dvdvideo level i entitled, learn the fundamentals of chicagostyle steppin chicagostyle steppin is an improvisational form of partner dancing originating from the chicago area, the mecca and steppin capitol. Nov 1, 2015 explore shorty8392s board music playlist. The history however extends as far back as the predecessor of modern american music, ragtime, which documents polyrhythm movements and sounds of its heyday. The cd shows the wide genre range that stepping emcompasses. Our private lessons consist of one or two students and one instructor. Steppin is not just a dance, its the music, the moves, the clothes, the mood.
We teach private lessons and group classes for all kinds of dances, including swing, argentine tango, nightclub, salsa, and waltz, and work with all different levels of students. We even had an unexpected sickness that caused us to have to reschedule on our. Dances may also be done in a line dance style similar to western swing and the new york hustle. Stepping left simultaneously unveils the radical roots of modern dance and. View our current schedule below then call or come by the office for more information 9722794077. By the 1960s it was known as the bop, which evolved into a unique style of its own called steppin in the city of chicago. I enjoyed this book because it took me back in history to the roots of stepping. Classes taught by cynthia shanks, chicagos own original master stepper of budweisersv103 worlds largest steppers contest, stanford bailey, chicagos maven instructor and the chicago style steppers llp instructional team. Orlando steppers connection instructor vinetta fraizer monday 6. The chicago steppin guide awards ceremony was created to give honor and recognition to those individuals and groups that created the dance movement, give it meaning and kept it. Feb 03, 2017 join principle instructor ron brown of just steppin as he brings his 3year award winning chicago style steppin class to the san leandro senior community center. In the meantime, please enjoy our archive of original and collected research and share your own dance histories with us. Chicago style stepping, affectionately known as steppin, like most social dances, evolved from the bop in the 1970s. You can not understand history of dance without understanding how dance is the individuation of collective storytelling.
It connected me to my african and africanamerican ancestors. Steppin is a lot smoother than boppin and is composed of 10% technique and 90% style. By the 1960s, steppin was known as the bop, which evolved into a style all its own called steppin as we know it today. African american social history communicated through dance. We are dedicated and committed to the continued evolution and development of the chicago steppin dance, culture and lifestyle. The swing dance known as steppin is a part of the western swing family. With anthony allen, sa chatman, sam chatman, cleopatra fincher. Learn how to step with the fundamentals patterns for the 8count, learn the history of steppin, the initial start, elegant turns, the lead. Although the dance is a chicago style step everywhere, each city bears organizations with their own unique names such that the dance is also ever evolving from state to state.
It helped me relive my soul stepping days as a delta in lambda chapter in chicago. Chicago dance offers ballroom and latin dance lessons. The upcoming events and programs of the chicago dance history project. It was originally known as the offtime dance, which was a form of a slowed down or half time jitterbug in the 1940s and later a heavy bop influence in the 1950s. Chicagostyle stepping, also known as steppin is an urban dance that originated in chicago. Its a compendium of many peoples experiences as they saw events unfold. Dance and politics in new york city, 19281942 graff, ellen on. In 1973 sam chatman was the first to coin the term chicago step, and has been widely credited with marking steppin s evolutionary transition from bop. Steppin on the blues explores not only the meaning of dance in african american life but also the ways in which music, song, and dance are interrelated in african american culture. The private setting allows the student to receive tailored instructions to meet their primary goal, work on a certain style, perfect your style, work through shortcomings footwork, turns, or. Due to our workschool schedules we had a 3 week window to squeeze in our 10 sessions and out instructor went above and beyond making sure they were scheduled and we were prepared. Steppin makes reference to other urban styles of dance found throughout the united states larger enclaves in. Steppin is an urban dance that continues to evolve defining its unique style and culture within in the context of mainstream swing dance.
Chicago style steppin has been uniting communities throughout the nation for decades. During the 1950s it became known as the walk due to its slow walking appearance with the leader and partner. Steppin up jazz dance is proud to present its unique dance program for children 3 to 15 years of age. Learn how to step with the fundamentals patterns for the 8count, learn the history of steppin, the initial start, elegant turns, the lead and follow, indicators for handbody, lane. Chicago style stepping steppin is an urban ballroom couples dance with roots in the neighborhoods of the city it. Style steppin aka steppin, workshops, private lessons, venue locations and just steppin 4 health group classes.
Since 1999 steppin up jazz dance has been under the direction of tara manning and rhonda manning. Feb 11, 2011 steppers will appreciate how this 35min documentary shortfilm has filledin the chronological gaps between the very first couples dance styles that were more boisterous and more acrobatic in. Join principle instructor ron brown of just steppin as he brings his 3year award winning chicago style steppin class to the san leandro senior community center. Dance as it has emanated from the black community is a pervasive, vital, and distinctive form of expressionits movements speak eloquently of african american. See more ideas about soul funk, music and teaching history. She and her dance partner greg rashid, from cleveland, won 2nd place out of towners at that competition. Chicago stepping news newspapers books scholar jstor. The visible rhythms of african american dance folklore and society by jacqui malone isbn. Steppin swept the nation as a dance that not only depended upon smooth moves and creativity but high fashion chic dress by both the male and female steppers to complete its ambiance. The smooth steppin show is a online radio show that features chicago steppin music hosted by sean smith aka the smooth agent. It starts on the downbeat of one with the leaders footwork starting on the left and finishing on the right with the follower doing the opposite closely deriving from the jitterbug.
Its the jazz of ballroom dancing, and the story of the evolution of an african american dance as it traveled the roads of the african american experience. Pat stott oct 2018 32 count 4 wall improver level line dance music. Chicagostyle stepping makes reference to other urban styles of dance found throughout. Noted american dance historian jacqui malone even labeled stepping as one of the most exciting dance forms to evolve in the 20 th century.
Steppin has a 6count basic pattern equal to 1 12 measures of 44 music in tempos of 70 to 100 bpm. Steppin out discos greatest hits 1978, vinyl discogs. Native to the chicago area, chicago steppin as it is affectionately known originated in where else. The chicago steppin guide awards ceremony was created to give honor and recognition to those individuals and groups that created the dance movement, give it meaning and kept it alive. Step by step through modern square dance history 9781414005034. We encourage submissions to this site for inclusion in the timeline. Steppin makes reference to other urban styles of dance found throughout the united. Dec 17, 2007 steppin is the history of an african american dance. Oftentimes, you can see a relationship evolving on the dance floor.
The jitterbug of the 1930s slowed down in the 1960s became the bop evolving into steppin. A brief history of steppin steppin originated in the 1930s as the jitterbug. Welcome to the history of stepping website, the information contained in this web site is the result of a colaboration and information sharing by many individuals. Steppin is the history of an african american social dance that never fail to manifest in african american communities and generations, its tradition, history, art form, culture, lifestyle, excitement. Steppin has gained popularity, particularly but not limited to the urban neighborhoods of america. Others claim the lindy hop evolving out of swing dancing birthed the steppers during the disco era. We are a chicago style steppin organization serving the seven cities in hampton roads, virginia. The dance is a very relaxed and smooth form of movement, not the breakneck actions that the jitterbug can have. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. Monster stars read it yourself with ladybird level 0. Even if you are not taking classes at chicago dance there is a good chance that your teacher or your teachers teacher studied here. We are removing our fees for every select subscription for 3 months to help support creators.
The dancers who shaped the chicago dance scene in the postwar yearsfrom gus giordano, who opened his evanston jazz studio in 1952, to shirley mordine, who founded the dance center of columbia college in 1969began their work in a relatively undeveloped cultural environment for dance production in comparison to the vibrant days of pavley and oukrainsky, adolph bolm, and the pagestone ballet. We are preparing to release the information concerning the chicago steppin guide awards, to be held in december. The empire steppers of new york is a group dedicated to the growth and enjoyment of chicago stepping in new york city and westchester county. Steppin out is a good primer for those unfamiliar with the chicagoborn steppers movement. Nov 3, 2017 minivideos of demonstrations on a variety of chicago steppin moves, breakdowns, basic steps for full instant video downloads of the basic fundamentals.
Some of the records were huge hits william devaughns millionselling be thankful for what you got while others were rescued from obscurity by becoming steppers favorites. Read more about dance, its origin and the various forms in books on dance. There are steppers in every major city in the united states and their numbers are growing as the dance sweeps the nation. Dance is new to this area trying to reach individuals who are interested in learning the dance and having fun. Quite simply, this book will change how the history of american dance in that. Individual dance, everybody facing same direction, no handhold. Steppin makes people from all over the country come to chicago just to see this phenomena first hand. This show airs every sunday afternoon from 5pm9pm cst on this show features songs in their entirety along with dj mixes by the smooth agent and guest dj e. Chicago style stepping has gained popularity, particularly in the urban neighborhoods of america. Dance history is not only an academic or artistic undertaking. Chicago style steppin is an art form and the dance is simply mesmerizing. The private setting allows the student to receive tailored instructions to meet their primary goal, work on a certain style, perfect your style, work through shortcomings footwork, turns, or proper technique, and learn at your own pace. Dance is new to this area trying to reach individuals who are interested in learning the dance and having.
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