Chicago stepping
Encyclopedia
Stepping is an urban dance that continues to evolve defining its unique style and culture within in the context of mainstream Swing dance. Stepping has gained popularity, particularly but not limited to the urban neighborhoods of America. Stepping makes reference to other urban styles of dance found throughout the United States larger enclaves in cities such as Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore and Washington DC. In these and other cities one will find very similar customs and cultures accenting local dance movements which are very similar to movements of the Lindy Hop
, West Coast Swing
, Jitterbug and the Shag
, just to name a few. Each city bears its own name such as the Bop(dance), Hustle
or Swingout
. Although unique to its own style, customs and accents the basic structure involves the movement of triple steps, rock steps and anchors with the lead and follower synchronizing their steps in a complementary manner.
, Lindy Hop and Bunny Hug
. Historians have noted that the early dance movements of Swing dances laid a superb foundation for elements of dance to be shared and improvised over a period of time. However the history extends as far back as the predecessor of modern American music, Ragtime
, which documents the polyrhythm movements and sounds of its heyday. Ragtime was not only a unique music form ,it was a dance as well. Ragtime was a play on John Phillip Sousa's music combining improvisation and syncopation in between to draw upon melodic themes and percussions. The end result was a richer melodic sound which was well received by local patrons as well as those abroad who would hear the new sounds coming from traveling musicians and dancers on the Vaudeville circuit.
music, there was still a strong contingent that would still Bop (now called Step) to any kind of music. Stepping didn't gain a real foothold until local station WBMX (102.7FM/1390AM) started playing two particular records by artist Jeffree, "Love's Gonna Last", and "Mr. Fix-It" in the mid to late 1970s. Neither song was a major Billboard R&B chart hit ("Mr. Fix-It" made it to #53, "Love's Gonna Last" didn't chart) but they perfectly complemented the newest version of the Chicago Step. In a classic case of a dance making a record a (local) hit, due to the massive request and playing of "Love's Gonna Last" on WBMX, it is now considered the ultimate "stepper's cut".
's "Step in the Name of Love
" and Happy People
, and Gerald LeVert
's "Didn't We?", the nation has gotten a taste of the steppers style. Additionally, movies such as "Love Jones (film)" (which depicts an event formerly hosted by local Chicago DJ Herb Kent, known as "The World's Largest Steppers Contest"), brought the dance and culture to the big screen. Steppin' is usually coordinated into events called "Stepper's Sets".
is popular in Washington DC, Baltimore, and Virginia. Another variation is Kansas City Style 2 Step, which is popular in Kansas City, Omaha, St. Louis, Wichita, Denver, and other cities in the Heartland. West Coast Swing is popular in the Bay Area, Silicon Valley, Southern California, Portland, and the Seattle-Tacoma area.
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Lindy Hop
The Lindy Hop is an American social dance, from the swing dance family. It evolved in Harlem, New York City in the 1920s and '30s and originally evolved with the jazz music of that time. Lindy was a fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during its development but is mainly based...
, West Coast Swing
West Coast Swing
West Coast Swing is a partner dance with roots in Lindy Hop. It is characterized by a distinctive elastic look that results from its basic extension-compression technique of partner connection, and is danced primarily in a slotted area on the dance floor...
, Jitterbug and the Shag
Carolina shag
Carolina Shag is a six-count partner dance done mostly to moderate tempo music . During the dance the upper body and hips hardly move as the legs do convoluted kicks and fancy footwork. The lead is the center of attention, and the follow's steps either mirror the lead's or mark time while the lead...
, just to name a few. Each city bears its own name such as the Bop(dance), Hustle
Hustle (dance)
The Hustle is a catchall name for several disco dances which were extremely popular in the 1970s. Today it mostly refers to the unique partner dance done in ballrooms and nightclubs to disco music. It has some features in common with swing dance. Its basic steps are somewhat similar to the...
or Swingout
Swingout
The swingout is the defining dance move of Lindy Hop. The swingout evolved from the breakaway, which in turn evolved from the Texas Tommy. The first documented mention of the swingout pattern that resembles breakaway was in 1911, to describe a "Texas Tommy Swing" show done at the Fairmont hotel in...
. Although unique to its own style, customs and accents the basic structure involves the movement of triple steps, rock steps and anchors with the lead and follower synchronizing their steps in a complementary manner.
Origins
Stepping, or steppin as it is affectionately known has it roots imbedded in the traditional dance movements of its predecessors such as the Texas TommyTexas Tommy (dance)
After the great 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco, the Barbary Coast became more of a tourist attraction than its predecessor. Dance-floors and variety shows designed to shock the tourists replaced prostitution as the chief business and many of the dance crazes that swept America during...
, Lindy Hop and Bunny Hug
Bunny hug
The Bunny hug was a dancing style performed by young people, in the early 20th century. It is thought to have originated in San Francisco, California in the Barbary Coast dance halls along with the Texas Tommy, Turkey Trot and Grizzly Bear....
. Historians have noted that the early dance movements of Swing dances laid a superb foundation for elements of dance to be shared and improvised over a period of time. However the history extends as far back as the predecessor of modern American music, Ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
, which documents the polyrhythm movements and sounds of its heyday. Ragtime was not only a unique music form ,it was a dance as well. Ragtime was a play on John Phillip Sousa's music combining improvisation and syncopation in between to draw upon melodic themes and percussions. The end result was a richer melodic sound which was well received by local patrons as well as those abroad who would hear the new sounds coming from traveling musicians and dancers on the Vaudeville circuit.
Disco and the Chicago Step
Even with the onset of DiscoDisco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
music, there was still a strong contingent that would still Bop (now called Step) to any kind of music. Stepping didn't gain a real foothold until local station WBMX (102.7FM/1390AM) started playing two particular records by artist Jeffree, "Love's Gonna Last", and "Mr. Fix-It" in the mid to late 1970s. Neither song was a major Billboard R&B chart hit ("Mr. Fix-It" made it to #53, "Love's Gonna Last" didn't chart) but they perfectly complemented the newest version of the Chicago Step. In a classic case of a dance making a record a (local) hit, due to the massive request and playing of "Love's Gonna Last" on WBMX, it is now considered the ultimate "stepper's cut".
Today
Steppin' is still in its infancy gaining popularity particularly in the urban community social and nightclub scene. Steppin has gained an increased visibility in media and entertainment mediums with recent R&B videos featuring local Chicago dancers. R&B crooners have been highly successful starting with R. KellyR. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
's "Step in the Name of Love
Step in the Name of Love
"Step in the Name of Love" is the title of a hit song by R&B singer R. Kelly. Taken from the 2003 album Chocolate Factory, the song became the tenth single from Kelly to reach #1 on the R&B chart, particularly on the strength of the song's remix. It also peaked at number nine on the pop charts...
" and Happy People
Happy People
"Happy People" is a 1974 single by The Temptations, co-written by Lionel Richie. The song was the first single from the A Song For You album. In the United States, the single went to number one on the R&B chart and number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. "Happy People" also peaked at...
, and Gerald LeVert
Gerald Levert
Gerald Levert was an American R&B singer. Gerald Levert sang with his brother, Sean Levert, and friend Marc Gordon in the R&B trio LeVert. He was also a part of LSG, an R&B supergroup comprising Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, and Levert...
's "Didn't We?", the nation has gotten a taste of the steppers style. Additionally, movies such as "Love Jones (film)" (which depicts an event formerly hosted by local Chicago DJ Herb Kent, known as "The World's Largest Steppers Contest"), brought the dance and culture to the big screen. Steppin' is usually coordinated into events called "Stepper's Sets".
Regional Variations of Steppin
Other parts of the USA have created their own forms of Steppin. One form is Detroit Ballroomin', which is popular in Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Toledo. Another form is Texas Swing Out, which is popular in Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Beaumont, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and New Orleans. Also, DC Style Hand Dancin'Hand dancing
Hand dancing, also known as "D.C. hand dancing" or "D.C. swing", is a form of swing dance that can be traced as far back as the 1920s, from Lindy Hop, to Jitterbug and to the 50's when Washington, D.C. developed its own version and named it Hand Dance. It is characterized by gliding footwork and...
is popular in Washington DC, Baltimore, and Virginia. Another variation is Kansas City Style 2 Step, which is popular in Kansas City, Omaha, St. Louis, Wichita, Denver, and other cities in the Heartland. West Coast Swing is popular in the Bay Area, Silicon Valley, Southern California, Portland, and the Seattle-Tacoma area.
Culture of Stepping
Stepping' is not just a dance, it encompasses a style of dress as well as music. As R. Kelly states in his #1 hit, "Step in the Name of LoveStep in the Name of Love
"Step in the Name of Love" is the title of a hit song by R&B singer R. Kelly. Taken from the 2003 album Chocolate Factory, the song became the tenth single from Kelly to reach #1 on the R&B chart, particularly on the strength of the song's remix. It also peaked at number nine on the pop charts...
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"...stepping is not just a dance, it's a culture...it's what we eat, think, and breathe..."