The P.L.A.Y.E.R.S. Club steppers came to West Chester University on Feb. 21 to show how stepping is done. The group came from New York and has performed at various places and starred in a number of music videos. P.L.A.Y.E.R.S. has won a number of titles in step competitions. The group has performed at the White House, NBA All- star challenge, Soul train music awards, step champions for the magazine Seventeen, won 11 times at the Apollo and were McDonald’s Gospel fest winners.
The group has even gone on tour with Alicia Keys, Usher and Ja Rule, as well as performing in music videos including Chris Brown. They were also casted in a step movie, “Stomp the Yard.”
The step group was formed by one of the members that wanted to form a unit. Each of the members has other activities going on in their lives; some of them are students in college, some do hip-hop sets and other dance sets.
The group opened Thursday night with their first number, moving about the stage and clapping in a rhythm to get the audience into the show to enjoy it more. After this first introduction number, the group member that got the group together introduced each member by their real name and a nickname.
During parts of the show, the members would explain how step was created. It was developed by slaves that were not able to talk while they were working. Step dance teams were introduced into a fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha.
Many of the slaves would sing to pass the time or talk to each other. Some slaves would even clap or stomp their feet to communicate. Soon after, the slaves would battle to each in step. This meant they would form two groups and perform one group at a time.
P.L.A.Y.E.R..S. described how stepping dancers create a rhythm by clapping, stomping their feet, using their body, chanting and/or singing. Facial expressions are used among the steppers as they become comfortable, as they get into the dance as they perform it and should be natural.
The members performed synchronized step dance moves. Usually they began with a chant or sang while they stepped. There is also African and Latino step. The group had 20 volunteers join them on the stage as they taught them how to step with them.
The group believed in being entertaining, as the audience responded with many applauses. The dancers taught audience members a short sequence to perform together.
The step group continued to perform their favorite dances and entertained the viewers. Towards the end, they allowed the audience to join them on stage to free style dance. The people on the stage formed a dance circle in which anyone could enter the circle and dance with the steppers.
After the show, the audience was given the opportunity to meet the steppers, get autographs and purchase t-shirts or hats.
“You go out [on that stage] and give your audience a show,” group member Victor Show said. “You put in a lot more energy as the crowd cheers you on.”
P.L.A.Y.E.R.S. step club was grateful to come to WCU to perform, and the spectators were more pleased that they had a comical night. The step group performed for the students and taught them some moves to get them involved. They wanted to amuse their viewers, which they did as the viewers were on the edge of their seats laughing.
Afterwards they were able to get more personal with the spectators and meet them in person. The event was hosted by SAC.
Ginger Rae Dunbar is a first-year student majoring in English with a minor in journalism. She can be reached at RD655287@wcupa.edu.