Brightly colored jerseys and spirited cheers filled the Rose Theatre yesterday as 18 organizations performed at the Homecoming step show.
The Student Activities Council (SAC)-sponsored event brought a diverse crowd together in a celebration of unity among the three different Greek councils at The University of Memphis.
Although there few events that bring the National Pan-Hellenic Council (PHC), Women’s Pan-Hellenic Council (WPC) and the Inter Fraternity Council (IFC) together, the Homecoming step show accomplished this goal by displaying the step and dance styling members of the chapters within these councils.
“Events such as this give The U of M the opportunity to see how our Greek system is unified in its mission to serve our community,” said Greek affairs advisor Parice Tyler. “This step show displayed Greek love across each council and teamwork. We believe that no matter what the letter, we are in this together.”
The event began with various people dancing on stage to the hip-hop beats pumped through loudspeakers. As the different chapters and organizations danced onto the stage, highlights stood out to audience members.
The Black Student Association dance team entertained the crowd with a routine that had the audience dancing in their seats. Phi Mu members got the group pumped up as they made their entrance to DMX’s “One More Road to Cross,” just as Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Phi Beta Pi did when they exited to Nelly’s “Pimp Juice.”
Kappa Delta and Alpha Tau Omega received a roar of applause when they chanted, “KD, ATO - get crunk, you know!” in the middle of their performance.
A meaningful presentation according to many members of the NPC was a unity-themed routine that included 15 members of six different chapters. The dancers wore jerseys representing their individual chapters but danced and stepped together as a unified group.
The group was made up of three members of Sigma Gamma Rho, three members of Alpha Kappa Alpha, four members of Zeta Phi Beta, one member of Kappa Alpha Psi, two members of Alpha Phi Alpha and two members of Alpha Sigma Theta.
“Most people only hear about the bad aspects of our organizations, but this showed that when it comes down to it we can put aside our individual efforts and come together for the common good of the PHC,” said Natasha Howell, who stepped representing Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Tamron LeSure, vice-president of Sigma Gamma Rho, agreed.
“People always say we can’t get along but this showed we can,” LeSure said.
Four members of ATO got the crowd on its feet when they performed a routine to N’Sync’s song, “It’s Gonna Be Me.”
At the conclusion of the event, SAC president Mario Brown expressed his appreciation to all participants and audience members for making the event a success. He said that this year the step show was “not as tense, but more spirited” than previous shows.
Brown said SAC decided to incorporate the step show into the Homecoming events two years ago. In order to prepare for the performances, members of PHC coach the WHC and IFC participants, who then create and rehearse their routines.
Brown said the Homecoming step show is especially important because it gives IFC and WPC chapters a chance to participate in an event of this type.
Additionally, Brown said the show helps to build Greek relations between the three councils.
“The show was very successful, and it gets better every year,” Brown said.
The presence of police officers at the event was conspicuous, although Associate Director of Police Services Derek Myers said no special precautions were taken.
He said police officer were present at the show was because they received a call about a fight between the University Center and the Rose Theatre preceding the event.
“We heard two girls were scrapping right before the step show, so we wanted to hang out in case they went into the show,” Myers said.
Myers also said police services didn’t expect the show to be as crowded as it was, so they stuck around for the whole show.
Other groups that participated in the Homecoming step show were Phi Sigma Pi, Alpha Gamma Delta, Lambda Chi Alpha, FIJI, Baptist Christian Ministry, Sigma Kappa and Sigma Phi Epsilon.
