After a week consumed with discussions about the importance of tradition on college campuses, there's still one celebrated practice that many overlook: stepping.
Stepping has long since been a tradition within historically African-American fraternities and sororities, and this style of dance will be on display as the Black Student Union hosts its annual TigerStomp March 4.
The show starts at 7 p.m. in the Student Activities Center, and tickets for students are $5 in advance.
While a number of sororities and fraternities from Auburn will be competing, TigerStomp welcomes chapters from other schools.
"This competition is open to any fraternity and sorority that pays the $50 entrance fee," said Shawntell Pace, senior in radio, television and film and BSU president. "We are encouraging everyone to get involved. This step show is a huge deal in Alabama, and people drive from everywhere to see these organizations perform."
Each performance must follow certain guidelines and adhere to a time limit.
"We ask that they keep their performance limited to 12 minutes," Pace said. "This includes the setup, performance and exit. They cannot have any obscene gestures, profanity or anything along those lines."
Months of preparation go into making the performances memorable.
"All of the sororities and fraternities begin preparing for the show as early as September," said Heather Horn, first-year graduate student and graduate adviser for National Pan-Hellenic Council.
Horn is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, which won last year's TigerStomp.
"A lot goes into performing in a step show," Horn said. "A theme must be picked, training must begin including working out daily and money must be raised for costumes and props."
A panel of judges will score sororities and fraternities separately, and the winner of each will receive a $2,000 grand prize and a trophy. The runner-up will receive $1,000 and a trophy.
DJ Big Sweatt will provide music throughout the show and comedian Steve Brown will serve as the special celebrity guest host. A member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Brown is no rookie when it comes to hosting these shows.
"Steve Brown has hosted the step show before, and last year he said that if Auburn won the Iron Bowl he could come back and salute to the fight song," Pace said. "If we lost, we would have to salute to the Bama song. Luckily, we won, so we get to see him pay homage to Auburn this year."
Horn said while carrying on the tradition of stepping is important, it is not the only unique aspect of NPHC organizations.
"This unique form of dancing is carried on as a tradition that expresses our African history, but it is not the makeup of our organization," Horn said. "This serves as one part that makes us unique."
Leading up to TigerStomp, fraternities and sororities will also host NPHC Week.
"NPHC Week starts Feb. 26 and ends March 4, the day of TigerStomp, with our NPHC Chaos Party," Horn said. "The week will be filled with forums, cookouts, community service and much more."
While the show is a celebration of a tradition unique to NPHC fraternities and sororities, members said everyone is welcome.
"For someone who has never been to a step show, come ready to be amazed," Horn said. "These teams have worked hard. Not only will you see dancing and stepping, but you will see a well thought-out performance."
Cindy Orsenigo, junior in communication disorders, said she was hooked after attending her first step show.
"I went to TigerStomp last year, and it was the first time I had ever seen a step show," Orsenigo said. "It was different, but really cool. There's the stepping, but they all also have story lines to their performances which makes it really entertaining."
Pace said the night is bound to be full of surprises. The judges as well as fraternities and sororities competing have yet to be announced, but Pace said the audience is in for a treat.
"Just know it is going to be worth suspense," Pace said. "It's an experience like no other. Once you go to one, you will be hooked."
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