Language…., Descriptions…., Titles…., Terminology….,Words….,
\nThese things MATTER, more than we’ve cared to give concern too.<\/p>\n
What is Steppin’?<\/p>\n
Seems like a simple question. But in reality….., many people, and dare I say….most who use that word, description, term….do not know. Or didn’t concern themselves with the fact that, the “word” describes something specific.<\/p>\n
Yet….the word is used synonymously to describe, title and explain several things that are patently different expressions or experiences. And by bundling them up, we sometimes miss a bigger picture.<\/p>\n
When asked about Steppin…., the response is often predicated by someone describing, in a story-like manner, what they do…, used to do…, or what their Mother did, and which includes a statement of how long they’ve been doing it, just to clarify… “That they KNOW, what they’re talking about”, and their word is “qualified” by how long they’ve been doing it.<\/p>\n
But that does what, for answering the question?
\nDid they answer the question?
\nCan they answer the question?
\nDo they have the words to answer the question?
\nDoes being somewhere give you the expertise to answer a question?<\/p>\n
But this is dancing….this ain’t that serious!
\nIt’s just a dance! ….Is it?
\nThis is my heritage! I been doin’ this since I was a Kid. So I know! ….So time doing this is the real determination? Even if what you’re describing, is simply…just what you do? Everybody else might do it differently?<\/p>\n
Or is it, that people didn’t take the time to “care” about language, terminology, or words, ….until confusion set in, people didn’t ask “me”, popularity became a form of currency, and currency became a benefit, ….IF, you could convince people that you are “premier”, “heavy”, “champion”, or dare I say…. “master”. But have you even bothered to get the “words”, right?<\/p>\n
It’s something like…., when someone says Chicago Style Steppin’….
\nIs there another “style”, in another city?<\/p>\n
Honestly, it might be a good idea to prepare for that.
\nBecause so much of the latest explanations about the dance, come from outside of Chicago.
\nAnd newsflash….. It’s not the dance that they actually “do”, in Chicago. It’s what that person has observed, by sometimes hanging out around people from Chicago, who didn’t tell them, that what they claim in wrong. I digress. That’s actually, another story.<\/p>\n
Or better yet…., when someone says, Do you Chicago Step?
\nStep is a verb or action word, ain’t it? Steppin’ is the noun. But it ain’t that “serious”.<\/p>\n
Or…., when still another says, I call, or spell it “Stepp”.
\nSo we’re just changing language altogether again?
\nWelcome to Ebonic spelling 101.<\/p>\n
Does it actually matter…., if you say “Steppin” vs. “Stepping”?
\nCause you don’t want anyone to misunderstand which one you were referring too?
\nIs that a real consideration? ….like, really.<\/p>\n
Consider a reality in America, ….Not just in this or any other community.
\nMillions of people….every week, watch Professional Basketball Games. And will swear up & down, that they KNOW the game. Because they’ve been playing, watching, or know someone who plays “at the pro level”, since I was a Kid!<\/p>\n
But dare you not to ask them to identify…. a Play Set, Motion or Flex Offense, Pick & Roll, High or Low Post Set, Give & Go, or any other BASIC element of the game. Does that mean that people do not know what they’re looking at? Do they care?<\/p>\n
But they can tell you who is “cold with it”! This Guy is one of the Greatest! Really?
\nBut it’s “just a game”, right?<\/p>\n
What does all of this even mean?
\nWhy do you have to take me on this long journey, through all this unnecessary information?
\nI just wanna dance!
\nI don’t need to know any of this!
\nJust show me the Steps!
\nJust show me the Turn!
\nJust show me the Move!
\nJust show me the Footwork!
\nJust tell me the Beat! ….Which Beat?
\nTell me The Count! ….What Count?
\nShow me “Your” Style!
\nI want My Own Style!
\nI can’t Feel the Music!
\nI can’t Hear the Music!
\nI can’t Relate to This Music!
\nI want to dance to All Types of Music!
\nI KNOW that You don’t Break-Dance to R&B, or Slow Jams. But I demand that THIS Dance accommodate me! <\/p>\n
WHY NOT??? …..IT’S JUST A DANCE!!!
\nIt’s not Tradition. It’s not Culture. It doesn’t have a Standard. It doesn’t have established Format. It should, be Anything Goes…., because It Can Be. If “You People”, just let it go!<\/p>\n
And if you don’t. We’re Younger, so we’ll take it. Leave you out in the cold. The Old School will die off. And we the New School will be the new, cool, ” in style” thing….with no foundation. Cause we don’t need it. And we don’t need your Old Music, Old Dance, or Old Memories. We can make it up as we go along.
\nBECAUSE WE’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS DANCE!
\nThat we don’t want to do, based on what really happens….because my Instructor who won the contest, or maybe can’t even dance their way out of a plastic bag, SAID…. <\/p>\n
And anyone who draws attention to ANY of this, ….is a Hater, Who don’t like Me. And is jealous. And just wanna be Right! And don’t mind that Man\/Wizard behind the curtain, flippin’ them switches.
\nI Am The Great Oz!!!<\/p>\n
And if you’re paying attention….I didn’t answer your question….because I didn’t have the right words. But I felt the need to be the one to explain it to you…. Cause I’VE BEEN HERE. I didn’t know how to tell you, that I didn’t have the Words. And I’m a little embarrassed by it. I just know how to do it. Or better yet….I do not know the Standard Format. I just know how to do, “What I Do”.<\/p>\n
I Can Show You That….
\nBut I Fear, that you won’t be interested in ME…, if I say that to you. You won’t find value in My Experience and see that I can help you too! And if you question me too much, I gotta deflect, and describe STYLE to you, because that’s “broad”. And I can hide the deficiencies there. I can skirt the Standard, because…, What I Do has worked for me….for 45 years. And I’m respected!<\/p>\n
But what I have for you….May not get you to where I’m at…, or even to where you want to be. It doesn’t have “order”, or “format”. But it worked for me. I figured it out. And you can too. Now pay me…. Attention & Currency please!<\/p>\n
Wait…, Wait…, Wait…, Don’t Trip….
\nBaby…..IT’S JUST A DANCE!<\/p>\n
And after all that rhetorical b#!!$&%*!!! You still ain’t said, What is Steppin’!?!?!<\/p>\n
To be honest….You askin’ about Steppin’? And that ain’t really the Dance that you’re doing! You’re actually hijacking the name….that’s similar. And the people who really do “STEP”, is kinda lookin’ at you crazy. Cause you sayin’ one thing and doin another.<\/p>\n
Do You Understand The WORDS That Are Coming Out Of Your Mouth? Or are you repeating what was told to you…and didn’t check the receipts before you started chatting it up. <\/p>\n
It’s what I did. And it serves me better to admit that. And it allows me to see the difference between History, and someone’s Experience.
\nBoth have value, and can enhance my journey. But only one establishes legacy, culture or tradition.
\nAnd IT MATTERS, what words you use, to describe, categorize, formalize, and acknowledge as standards to establish as foundations for future considerations. <\/p>\n
What is Steppin\u2019?<\/p>\n
Ironically, before we can answer this question, we have to answer another question\u2026
\nHow is Chicago Steppin\u2019 categorized? Because, \u201cSteppin\u201d, isn\u2019t just one dance anymore. We ignored the impact of language & words\u2026\u201dBecause it\u2019s just a dance\u201d.And doing that put us in a conflict, because, \u201cin Chicago\u201d, it didn\u2019t matter. That community was contained enough where it could exist without there being descriptive issues to worry about people not using the \u201cright\u201d words to categorize a dance. But who knew that Steppin\u2019 was ever going to leave the boundaries of Chicago?<\/p>\n
Considering how the Chicago Dances were originally categorized, the \u201cproper\u201d definition of the word \u201cSteppin\u201d, no longer fits the dance as it once did, because it has become an \u201cumbrella\u201d term for several dances that are actually different & separate, although they have roots in the original Chicago Bop, and subsequently in Harlem Swing.<\/p>\n
There are three commonly accepted formats of the Chicago Dance. Those being;
\nThe Bop: said to have developed in the 1930\u2019s or 40\u2019s,
\nSteppin: known to have started in the early 1970\u2019s, developed by the \u201cTeen\u201d crowd that observed the Bop scene via their parents and relatives, and
\nThe New Bop: also said to have developed in the 1970\u2019s & 80\u2019s, and becoming well accepted into the 90\u2019s, as a direct flip on the original Bop dance.<\/p>\n
So, what makes these dances what they are?<\/p>\n
There are several common elements that are accepted by them all\u2026
\nThere is a Men\u2019s or Lead side and originating step, which is with the Right foot.
\nThere is a Women\u2019s or Follow side and originating step, which is with the Left foot.
\nThe most important element of the experience is the Music & it\u2019s Beat.
\nAll three dances are built on a standard base of movements; the Basic Step. Right Turn, Left Turn, Half Turn, Under-Arm Turn, & Cross-body Lead.
\nAll Dance Movements are executed in a slotted Lane space, creating an orderly dance floor.<\/p>\n
Commonly described as Cool\u2026what is Cool to You?, Smooth\u2026what is Smooth to You?, Strictly for Grown Folks\u2026what is Mature Style to You?, etc. What makes these dances different, and why is their terminology, something to pay attention too?<\/p>\n
If only I had a dollar for every time I\u2019ve heard someone watch a dance be performed, and then I hear the words\u2026,
\nThat ain\u2019t it.
\nThat ain\u2019t how we do it.
\nWhen they start doin\u2019 that?
\nWhat\u2019chu dancin\u2019 too?
\nWhat beat you on?
\nWho told you to do that?
\nWhere\u2019s your footwork?
\nWhat\u2019s with all the Turns?
\nWhy are you wild & all over the place?
\nAre you gonna stay in your lane?
\nCan you hear the music?<\/p>\n
Sometimes, the initial problem, is that you\u2019re asking the person about the wrong dance, or rather, you\u2019re asking them about the dance that they don\u2019t do.
\nWhat does that mean?
\nIt means that somewhere, \u2026somebody, \u2026started using one word to describe 3 dances. Very similar, in the base they share\u2026.but different scenes, sometimes different music, different beats, and definitely different \u201cStyles\u201d.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re not going to debate \u201cCounts\u201d. Accept it or not, Boppin & New Bop are 6-Count dances. But that means nothing in the grand scheme of things. None of the dances under the \u201cSteppin\u2019\u201dumbrella are 8-Count dances. That is\u2026.if you understand, what \u201cCount\u201d is. \u201cCount\u201d is NOT the steps that you take. It\u2019s about the music. So the 8-Steps in these dances, are NOT Counts. The \u201cword\u201d was used improperly. \u201cCount\u201d is a musical term that is counting the music, not the Steps that you are taking to perform a cycle of Basic. That means that whichever Count Method that you were taught is of no issue. There is only ONE argument to really consider. Is the method that you\u2019re using focused on The Steps, or\u2026 on The Music. If it is focused on The Steps, then it is NOT based on what the best Dancers in Chicago focus on. They focus on, and their motivation and inspiration is found in, The Music!<\/p>\n
Back to our regularly scheduled program\u2026.What are these categorizes, or styles?<\/p>\n
The Bop:<\/strong> Steppin\u2019:<\/strong><\/p>\n Steppin\u2019 was a new movement in partner dance. It was not, just performing a framework, it was action, attention, competition, and creating Steps. And those \u201cSteps\u201d, did NOT always fit into a framework, as this dance celebrated individuality. The New Bop:<\/strong><\/p>\n Closer in style and execution to the original Bop, the New Bop incorporates both single & two-handed leads. It also is defined by two Triple-steps and a Rock Step. Differing from the Bop, the New Bop is performed on the Up Beat, aka the Snare Drum Beat, simultaneously with the finger pop. Traditionally, it is a Lower-Body driven dance, in that Footwork improvisation is an encouraged expression of style in the form, as long as it fits within the established framework. In recent years, there has been an increased introduction of Turns to this style, pushing a more Upper-Body driven dance, with less \u201cdancing\u201d or \u201cfootwork\u201d, that was initiated in the late 1990\u2019s & early 2000\u2019s, allowing for more complex turn patterns. Spins, Dips, Lifts, and Leaps are not standard or fundamental movements in this style of dance. As it \u201cturns\u201d out, this is actually the dance style, that most people are actually being introduced to across the country.<\/p>\n Now that we have a new vocabulary, we\u2019re positioned to have better conversations, while not having every statement re-define what this dance is. We also see that when someone says, \u201cSteppin\u2019\u201d, that we may need to clarify, which of the three different dances, and scenes that they are referring too. (Some would say, two scenes, as Bop & New Bop generally co-exist with no historical issues) So, what dance are you doing? Yes, we are all one Family, but different takes, with different names, and descriptions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Language…., Descriptions…., Titles…., Terminology….,Words…., These things MATTER, more than we’ve cared to give concern too. What is Steppin’? Seems like...","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12178,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[148,18,19],"tags":[151,152,153,149,150],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nThe Bop is generally referred to as a Single-hand lead partner dance, using two triple-steps with a modified Rock Step, that shift forward or sideways.
\nThe Bop implemented an established framework and pattern for how the dance was to be expected to be executed.
\nThe dance is performed on the Down beat, aka Bass drum beat, \u201cafter the finger pop\u201d. Citing a description coined by one of Chicago\u2019s Leading Dancers, it is Lower-Body driven, with primary turns and simple combination turns. Spins, Dips, Lifts, and Leaps are not standard or fundamental movements in this style of dance.
\nThe Bop is NOT only done to Dusty music, or Jazz songs. Also, there is NO, \u201cBoppin\u2019 Music\u201d. There are simply Songs that Dancers choose to Bop on. Boppin tends to be more adaptable for dancing to faster music, and applies equally well to mid-tempo songs.
\nIf the Music gets too fast, \u201cSlow-Bop\u201d, which cuts the dance time in half, becomes yet another option. (The core focus here is the main dance, the Bop.)<\/p>\n
\nSteppin adopted a strong, two-handed lead that provides for sharp changes of direction.
\nThere is the presence of the two Triple-steps, and a Rock step, that is found in Boppin\u2019, but it is often a more syncopated movement Cross-Step pattern, depending on the music and dancer.
\nThe Steps, in Steppin\u2019 also allow for regular spurts of improvisation, which do not really contain it into a space to call it a 6-Count dance, an 8-Count dance or any other standard measurement, because it is so dependent on how the dancer chooses to express themselves.
\nFootwork moves is an expected part of this style category. In addition, dancers are known to dance on both the Up (Snare) or Down (Bass) Beat.
\nIt should be noted that this \u201cinterpretation\u201d of the Bop was developed by the Teen Dancers of the 1970\u2019s, and became a new and separate version of the Chicago Dance. Besides learning and incorporating the movements that they observed their Boppin\u2019 relatives doing, they also took inspiration from James Brown, Latin Hustle, and the Skating scene\u2019s movements.
\nSteppin\u2019 is a style form, where anything goes, although, not all Steppers employ this philosophy, and keep the dance simple and smooth. Dips, Drops, Lifts, Slides, Splits, Spins, Leaps, and any movements that the Dancers deem to be Ice cold, Playa-level Smooth, or Attention-getting, while dancing to the beat, are allowed.<\/p>\n