Photo by Shelby Russom | Photo Editor

The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) hosted the 11th annual Best Steppers Step Show, showcasing strength, unity, brotherhood, sisterhood and celebration of African American culture at Arkansas State University. 

The NPHC, also known as the Divine Nine, worked and practiced to demonstrate their dedication and love for their chapter through stepping. Stepping is a percussive dance style that involves the body creating rhythms through acts of dramatic movement such as stomping, clapping and vocalizations. 

Amber Yates, a senior communication studies major from Salem, Arkansas, said stepping takes a personal and expressive role for many of the Black-founded Greek organizations at A-State — expressing pride, sending powerful and meaningful messaging and entertaining the audience. 

“Stepping is an art form that consists of creating synchronized sound with your body,” Yates said. “It demonstrates brotherhood and sisterhood, dedication and hard work. It’s a way to showcase the unity and heart that we have for our communities and organizations.”

Stepping has a rich history within African folk traditions and culture.

“African American students at A-State have been great leaders and continuing to celebrate their cultures will continue to empower the young leaders here,” Yates said.

Stepping allows the members of the Black student population here at A-State to connect. Yates first became involved in stepping in the spring of 2022 through the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. 

“I always tell new members that stepping holds memories,” Yates said. “Step has connected me and my sisters like no other form of performing that we do. It means the world.” 

Best Steppers was originally called Fall Explosion when it was organized by the Black Student Association. Since transitioning under NPHC leadership in 2013, the event has been known as Best Steppers.

The show took place in Centennial Hall in the Reng Student Union and opened with a video explaining the history of strolling and stepping, emphasizing the importance of respecting the performances and performers. The opening act featured the Jonesboro High School Step Team.

Throughout the event, the shows’ hosts Aleecia Evans and James Lowery introduced the seven participating organizations through small roll calls where members strolled through the aisles. Additionally, they introduced their judges for the night: Trinity Hayes, the education program coordinator for the Multicultural Center; Carnesha Ben, student life counselor at Wilson Counseling Center; Ian Buchan, A-State alum currently working in the University Advising.

Seven out of the nine NPHC organizations were Kappa Alpha Psi Inc., Omega Psi Phi, Alpha Phi Alpha Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Inc., Zeta Phi Beta and Phi Beta Sigma and Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc.

Each performance featured a unique theme, such as The Heist, Gladiators and Smooth Criminals.

The People’s Choice winner was decided through Kahoot, with 270 attendees voting. Alpha Phi Alpha won with 74 votes with an Escape Room-themed performance. Sigma Gamma Rho, Inc. won Second place with their Jumanji theme, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. won third place with a Barbie-themed performance.

Martavius Hopkins, a junior criminology major from Portageville, Missouri, and member of Alpha Phi Alpha, said the fraternity spent months perfecting their choreography. 

He said the theme inspiration was the result of the fraternity brothers wanting something fun, with the goal of creating a fan favorite and rousing loud crowd reactions.

“The escape room idea was also because of our afterparty, which was Halloween themed,” Hopkins said. “We wanted to express this idea of escaping and then getting to go and celebrate at a party.”  

Hopkins said it’s important to have events that highlight stepping on campus to support and represent A-State’s Black student community.

“We only have nine divine organizations and stepping is something different that not everybody gets to do, so it’s really important to us. That’s why we take it so seriously,” Hopkins said. 

Sharing a similar sentiment, Evans, a senior nursing major from Little Rock, said as a predominantly white institution, showcasing the history of NPHC is essential for the broader A-State community. 

“Showcasing our history and where the NPHC comes from, where the divine nine comes from and proudly showing the importance of stepping and where it started, it just emphasizes the great things the Black students can contribute to A-State,” Evans said. 

With roughly 270 attendees, Evans said she hopes next year’s show will be bigger and better as NPHC always aims to surpass previous events. 

Evans said she encourages those who missed the show to attend the spring semester’s Stroll Off.

“You don’t wanna miss this event. Not only does it showcase our talents within our community, but it also shows the history that’s behind it, because there is more behind just stepping and strolling,” Evans said. “It comes from a long line of history, so if you missed it this semester or in the past, you definitely want to show up in the spring.”

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