University of Iowa - Hawkeye Yearbook (Iowa City, IA)

Page 31 text:

I if . I L. 981' QBeIowJ Bearing his name and a number one, Elton Royal models his stepping shirt before a performance. ll, Wickhaml QAbovej All lined up, Lance Alvarez, Karl Davis, la. Harris, and Wayne lohnson take time to rest between rehearsals, ll. Wickhaml QLeftj We're the premiere steppers of lowa, boasts Phi Beta Sigma President james Harris. Harris leads the members of his fraternity in a routine. ll. Wickhaml Step Dancing 31 55 if

Page 30 text:

Steppin' to the lo a side Homecoming festivities got a shot of so- phistication when the steppers of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity took to the floor at the Old Capitol Mall. Lance Alvarez, Karl Davis, Eddy Frizell, james Harris, Vic Miller and Duane Newson teamed up to step their stuff in front of more than 70 students and passers-by as part of Homecoming Week activities. Stepping: just what is it? According to the men of Phi Beta Sigma, it's a way of llshow- ing unity, coordination and expressing our talent. To the first-time observer, step- ping's a complicated combination of ryth- mic dance steps, punctuated by pounding canes, clapping, and catchy chants. 'lt takes about six weeks to learn to step, initially, said Phi Beta Sigma President james Harris. POnce you've got the basic steps down, it gets easier. According to Darrell Cannon, basic steps are traded with other fraternities nation- wide. uWe take the basics, and then we add variations on them to come up with our own routines, he said. Greek steppers compete in regional and national step- downs several times a year. PWe've competed in several stepdowns and we've only lost one, Harris said. 'iWe're the premiere steppers of Iowa. Stepping got its start more than 50 years ago. Black fraternities participated in a Na- tional March, a forerunner of stepping, as early as 1914, said Cannon. The Crescent, Phi Beta Sigma's national magazine, men- tioned stepping in an article written in 1932. llDuring the 30's, dancing was really pop- ular, noted Cannon. Movies of the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers genre probably had tRightj Arms crossed and ready to step, Wayne john- son starts a performance in the main ballroom during Riverfest. U. Wickhamj 30 Step Dancing an influence in the origins of stepping, he said. 1lBefore tapdancing appeared on the screen, people were doing it on the street, he added. Cannon emphasized that llstepping start- ed down South, and today nearly all black fraternities nationwide have picked up on it. 'll always have a lot of fun doing it, Har- ris said. 'With every show there's some stage fright, but once you're out there you really start getting into it and it's great. Their enthusiasm was obvious at the Homecoming performance, and the crowd quickly picked up on their spirit. lt was awesome, said Ul junior Mari Sather after the show. 'iThey're so talented. lt's really a neat thing to see. All the practice pays off, and the men of Phi Beta Sigma take pride in the finished product. During one of the routines, the performers stepped through elaborately choreographed sequences and chanted confidentally: UFor all you folks who think you're cool, just come on down to the Sig- ma stepping school! -Ann Roan f i .i., . it .yi . t ,M , rz .K .,,.. ie if if gk c ri.. 1 ..... A . islire ... ,J it -.-if I I 5 A ' Vi 1 .,.. ,2- si I 't S - f ' . ff A -K f 5 t L - f --Laaqg yes- - 'tt . ..... . .

Page 32 text:

The University of Iowa Dance depart- ment began the year early with a summer workshop for students interested in dance. Alwin Nikolais and his dance troupe, the Nikolais Dance Theatre, were guest per- formers and workshop hosts. Nikolais and the Master of Dance held the workshops for three weeks. Students of dance from schools across the nation joined Iowa students in studying with this master of experimental dance. Such experimental movements included the use of various props. Showing motion with strips of material as well as the use of elastic bands of material topped the perfor- mance presented the last two days of the troupe's stay at the University of Iowa, The troupe's performances in Hancher Audito- rium drew standing room only crowds. After the Nikolais Dance Theatre left Iowa City, the dance department geared all their energies to the dance gala that is held every year in November. This year Pam Wessels and lim Rosbor- ough teamed together the dance and ath- letic departments to pesent DANCE! FIGHT! GHEER! FOR IOWA. Wessel was in charge of the final number, Iowa Variations. Participants from the Athletic Depart- ment included former basketball player Steve Garfino, gymnast Linda Tremain, and wrestlers Barry Davis and Ed Banach, as well as other UI athletes. In addition, Iowa Men's Basketball coach George Raveling and actor and former Uni- versity of Iowa basketball player Greg Mor- ris served as co-emcees. The rest of the year was devoted to classes and workshops to help students de- velop individually and expressive tech- niques. - Laura Kelly IBelowl Many interesting experimentations are taken during workshops hosted by the Nikolais Dance Troupe. Both photographs below show differrent props that the Dance Troupe used. 3' I I f ' , 1 f I I W' 'i . 1 . . -- . A k I . , I AQ ' f .44 za. fr- ' ai! ' l. f V J: S T I is 'v ' V .. fl? .,a....,.-,.. 32' iowfx Aiirs A 'Timm-.