Hear the beat of steppin' feet

Step show dancers will be sure to drop it like it's hot as the annual Homecoming event rocks Wilson Hall

Homecoming weekend starts off with a bang … or is it a step? Saturday at 8 p.m., several sororities and fraternities will compete in a step show, co-sponsored by the Center for Multicultural International Student Services, the Black Student Alliance and the Black and Latino Greek Caucus.

Six fraternities and sororities will compete in the step show. The team that wins first place receives a $500 award. Several other awards can be won such as second place, best costume, best special effects, best intro and best exit.

"The events (for the step show) are put together at the beginning of the semester. We try to put step teams together to represent the historically black or Latino fraternities and sororities," CMISS assistant director Chris Carter said. "We also try to recruit teams from other universities. This year we have teams from neighboring schools like Virginia Tech, Virginia State University and the University of Virginia."

The first step show was put together in the 1980s and has become a tradition for students and co-sponsors since. According to Shavalyea Wyatt, a graduate assistant at CMISS who helped put together the show, the step show and after party were in the Convocation Center but moved in 1999 to Wilson Hall and the after party to Sinclair Gymnasium at Godwin Hall.

Carter said, "The step show allows students to see the culture that some of the organizations on this campus still celebrate. The tradition is carried on throughout the campus, and it exemplifies unity and forms a bond with the black and Latino fraternities and sororities."

Wyatt said, "It (step show) will increase students knowledge about black and Latino organizations that aren't well represented at JMU and will give people exposure to the group. It's also an excellent performance, and it is traditional for fraternities and sororities to do this type of performance."

Sophomore Stacey Carter said, "I went last year and it was a lot of fun. I got to see all my friends and chill with them. I would love to do step."

The step show is open to students, alumni and anyone in the area. Tickets are available at the box office for $8, and they are also available at the door for $10.