What does it mean to be a stepper? . Turning in circles. By: Mr. Daniel Land
The first time I thought about becoming a webmaster was in the middle of Willowbrook Ballroom while a member of the Majestic Gents. There I was dressed in my usual plaids or stripes, I forget which one, turning in circles to infinity when the room went into a slow motion which seem like forever. I saw history all around me and at the same instance realized that steppin was far more than a dance but a significant part of African American history, especially in the Chicagoland area. I knew nothing about computers, websites, video production, art or graphics. In fact, computers was pretty much French to me at the time.
However, I did know that I wanted to create and design a Steppers website from that moment onward and I knew exactly how I wanted it to look, feel and communicate to the masses across the Internet World Wide Web. So I traded in my circles and Majestic Gent membership to spend time at Barnes and Nobles, Crown Books and later Borders. It was not long before I uploaded my first steppers website SteppersExpress.com in 1999. I also went on to master web development and design and introduce others to some dynamic varaibles behind this technology. Now there are several hundred if not more Steppers websites throughout the Inernet World Wide Web and the numbers continue to grow. Ten years passed since that enlightening moment at Willowbrook. However note I did not only create and design a steppers website or introduce flash based techonology to the steppin culture since that time. I also embarked on several other professions, expertise, achievements and accomplishments in and out the steppers culture. I currently perform many of these same task for one of the biggest companies in the World. I don't need to list all my accolades. I find no need at this time to dance around my ego. Most people know who I am and the intricate role I played in bringing technology to the steppers culture from websites to video. The important point here is that directly or indirectly, steppin influenced my life aside from the dance floor, hosting events or buying into the popularity aspect of it as a member of a steppers club as I was experiencing it as a Gent.
I state this to state what? Well, I state this to communicate the fact that this dance is far more greater then contest, night clubs, petty arguements about counts, gossip columns and all that we tend to concentrate on or promote in so many petty and minute ways. This dance is far better then what we give it credit with our lack of respect for the dance as well as the great history behind the dance, including great people who wrote the history of steppin through several past generations. This dance is responsible for many positive changes and events for those of us who changed our direction in life for whatever reasons from the negative influences of gang banging, drinking, drugging, hustling, womanizing on down to turning in circles in the middle of Willowbrook ballroom to other avenues and options that was not only benefitial to one as an individual but also the entire steppin culture along with our families and communities as a whole.
I seriously belive that when we understand and validate the true nature of steppin and what it really mean to so many people in so many special and positive ways from our rise above adversity up and to our memories when steppin brought us joy and happiness at some time or another in life. This is when we will stop all the madness and petty nonsense, embrace the dance fully, appreciate the dance and the history behind it and understand that a real stepper will always respect the dance first and foremost. This is when we as steppers really know the true definition of steppin with a confident heart and mind beyond the dance floor and throughout the history of the art. This is also when we as steppers humbly accept what it really mean to be a stepper. Until then, well, many of us will probably continue to define steppin as how well we turn in circles. Peace my steppers and may God Bless you.
