ATTENTION: Step Master Class Coming To A Studio Near You!!!!

Have you been looking for the opportunity to learn step or to get a good workout? Are you a dancer looking to expand your artistic repertoire? If either is true, we invite you to come out to our “Step Master Class”. Come one, come all! Classes are open to all skills levels…that means you step novice and you too step extraordinaire.

So, come on get excited! This is a unique opportunity! Respond to this post and let us know that you are interested and we will contact you with more information.

A Chosen Few Incorporated…we make step our business!!!

Prioritizing Your Passion

By Candyce Burke

I think all artists can appreciate the fact that it is not enough to just love your art form. You have to practice and exercise your talent. But, sometimes in the hustle and bustle of life and work, it can be hard to make time for this valuable aspect of being an artist.

In our society, value is placed on working a 9-5 and making as much money as possible. And this value aside, the truth is that we need a reliable source of income to survive, pay bills, and make ends meet. This fact alone may be the main reason why artistic passion at times gets placed on the back burner in our lives.

While there are those fortunate artists who have had the opportunity to make a living performing and presenting their art to the world, the term “starving artist” is not a myth or cliche. IT IS REAL!!! There are thousands of dancers, singers, painters, and musicians who have given up their day job in order to devote all their time and energy to their artistic expression, only to find themselves struggling to stay afloat financially.

Most of us probably fall into a category somewhere in between. We have not quite made it to stardom in the pursuit of our artistic passion, and neither have we chosen to solely pursue our art despite our financial obligations and other, non-artistic goals. I believe that it is possible for an artist in either of these categories to take their art form just as seriously as the next.

Clearly the artist who has “made it” has time to exercise and perfect their talent and so does the “starving artist”. But what about those of us who may work and be currently in pursuit of an educational program or career in an unrelated field?

For the vast majority of us, it all boils down to prioritizing. It is very easy for our artistic passions and pursuits to take a back seat to our non-artistic careers. As members of A Chosen Few, step is our collective passion. Although we all have other goals outside of being professional steppers, we have accepted the challenging task of making step a priority in our lives. As a team, we come together once a month for 10 hours of practice and it is our goal to gig at least once a month as well. Each member lives in a different state, so in between time when we are not together we create new material and make sure the steps in rotation are performance-ready. This is no easy task and prioritizing step in our lives and being excellent as artists is a constant goal.

So tell us: How do you prioritize your passion in the arts? What sacrifices have you made in your life to ensure that you make room for artistic expression to be apart of your daily routine? Can you call yourself a stepper, dancer, singer, or painter if you don’t incorporate practice and performing into your life?

Is it realistic to have a passion for the arts and a full-time career in another field?  What factors prevent you from pursuing your artistic passion full-time and/or professionally?

Let’s dialogue…

The Expression Of Art: Gift, Talent, or Perfected Skill

By Candyce Burke

You know how it seems that some people just have a natural knack for things? Like their chosen artistic expression just flows out of them. It’s not uncommon to hear a dancer say definitively, “Dance is a part of who I am” suggesting the inseparable nature of their being and their art form. And it’s more than just this declaration that is convincing, when they dance, they make it look so easy. Like breathing.

Then there are those people who seem to have all the passion in the world to sing or dance or paint, but they just aren’t very good. This example begs the question: Can people choose what they want to be good at? Do we have the ability to be talented or gifted in whatever we want? Also, by what standard do we judge someone’s artistic expression as “good” or “bad”? Should we judge?

How can someone have no rhythm at all, yet have the ability to paint a masterpiece? Something to make you say hmmmm….

When I reflect on my experience as a stepper, I think about the time I have spent practicing and training, essentially perfecting my skill. I remember one of the first times I saw step being performed, it struck a chord that resonated with me. This was over a decade ago, and my experience as a stepper has fueled the passion I now have for this artistic expression. Maybe, being rhythmically inclined had a lot to do with my initial attraction to step? Now, step is a part to my life. It’s what I do, what I enjoy, like second-nature.

I believe that it is at the intersection where passion meets talent meets gift meets perfected skill that the magic of artistic expression happens.

LET’S DIALOGUE!!!:  Think of something you’re good at…..step, photography, singing, whatever it may be. Now, think about how you got to be good at it. Is it something that you practice and work hard at, or is it more like second nature? When did you first realize what your artistic passion was? What are your thoughts about artistic expression, is it a gift, talent, or perfected skill? Be a part of this discussion…

 

Mi Choreography…es Su Choreography???

By Candyce Burke

We’ve all heard the saying, “Mi Casa, es Su Casa”. This Spanish phrase is a highly hospitable way of saying, “please make yourself at home, whatever is mine, is yours”. For the record, the same does not apply to choreography. Never in a million years will you ever hear a stepper from one team say to another, “Hey, did you say you liked this step? Meet me at the studio at 2:00pm and I’ll teach it to you, then maybe you can teach your team.” It ain’t gonna happen!!! However, even without this invitation to take another team’s choreography, all too often it happens that some just help themselves. There is no need to call out names here, I know everyone has seen it before.

I have often wondered what there is to gain in shamelessly copying someone else. What does this say about whoever does such a thing? Shouldn’t every step team have something unique to offer the step culture? Stealing steps is not a unique ability, it’s a cop out. No team will ever be recognized for it’s “cunning ability to steal and perform a step uniquely created by another”.

…And its always a wonder exactly HOW people go about stealing another team’s choreography. Do they record performances and review them during practice time to ensure they copy every move to the “T”? Did some disgruntled member who left one team, join another and then teach their new teammates the choreo? How exactly does this happen?

There are thousands of step combinations, and hundreds of ways to combine them to come up with unique step variations. The opportunity for creativity is virtually endless. Why then do people steal steps? This is the question.

A Chosen Few operates with in-house, interactive collaboration when it comes to our choreography. In other words, we make up all of our own material. Choreography is what makes a team unique and should be seen as a chance to leave an imprint that no one has ever left before.

While creating steps does come easier for some than others, I believe that every stepper is capable of creating material. As steppers, we need to develop our skills to the point where we are familiar with rhythm, timing, and beat combinations enough to create a step. Choreo-creation is a whole different world when compared to rote memorization as someone dictates step movements. When creating steps, you use your brain and body in a different way, this is essential to being a well-rounded stepper.

When having a hard time coming up with new steps, maybe a “creative jam session” during practice for a few hours will get the “juices” flowing. I don’t believe copying another team’s choreography and calling it your own is ever an option.

So, now it’s time for you to weigh in…

Have you ever had choreo stolen from your team? When/Where were you when you found out someone else had been performing your material?

When your team is having a hard time coming up with new choreo, what do you do?

Have you ever “borrowed” another team’s steps? If so, what was your reason?

Let’s discuss…

What/Who Is Hott In The Step Culture?!?

New students- second day learning a step

Action shot
Some members of A Chosen Few flying

We want to remind you that this is a forum for the exchange of all things pertaining to the step culture! Although the majority of “mainstream” step lies in the Greek traditions of sororities and fraternities, there are other step teams and organizations. And believe us, there are some gems out there!!! We want to embrace and speak to the inclusivity of all steppers both Greek and non-Greek. Below you will find links to video clips of a few teams/organizations that have stood out to us. Please comment on what you see and share some clips from your team or videos that have caught your eye. Feel free to post the good, bad, and the ugly!!! Let’s Dialogue!!

H.A.V.I.C. Squared breaking it down...nice mixes!

Some new takes on the traditional and DEFINITELY some fraternity/sorority influence, some big squads, some small....WEIGH IN...some of the most "interesting stuff is in the last 4 minutes :)

LOVE Dem Boyz! These dudes are sick!

See any similarities?!!?

Really?!!? Whatchall think?!!?

The State of Step

By Candyce Burke

Ever take the time to compare step to other forms of dance? Step undoubtedly is unique and not easily categorized along with any other dance form. However, when compared to more mainstream types of dance, it becomes obvious that step falls short.

Allow us to tell you what we mean…

Let’s take tap for instance. This dance form is respected all around the world. It has been on Broadway, I mean, everyone has heard of the show “Bring In The Noise, Bring In The Funk!”. There are tap professionals, people who have literally made a living as tap dancers. A few “big names of tap” are Savion Glover, Sammy Davis Jr, Gregory Hines, Debbie Reynolds, and Fred Astaire. Most of the previously named are hoofers but some tap in a more ballroom style. So you see, there are noted styles of tap dance.

There are a number of terms used as titles for the tap movements as well. Common tap steps include the shuffle, shuffle ball change, flap, flap heel, cramproll, buffalo, Maxi Ford, single and double pullbacks, wings, Cincinnati, the shim sham shimmy (also called the Lindy), brushes, scuffs, single and double toe punches, hot steps, heel clicks, single, double and triple time steps, riffs, over-the-tops, military time step, new yorkers, and chugs, just to name a few. As you can see the list of named tap movements is exhaustive and has undoubtedly had a unifying effect for tap dancers all over the world. And what do tap dancers wear when they perform? TAP SHOES, of course!

Now let’s consider the “state of step”.

Anyone who knows step knows that there are definitely series of movements that everyone uses. Just think about it. We’re talking about that series of stomps and claps that seem to be in every other step we create. Although the tempo and the cadence for these series of movements may vary, why is it that there are no official names for these universal movements?

Steppers who appreciate the art form and their bodies as instruments know that footwear should be supportive and whatever you decide to wear should not interfere with the execution of your steps. At steps shows we have seen people wear anything on their feet from timberlands and shell-toed adidas, to high-heels and sandals. And let’s not even get into the range of uniforms that steppers hit the stage wearing. Should there be footwear or a uniform associated with step?

As you visualize a step show, think about the many different styles and types of step that you have seen. There are high intensity steps, steps that are all about precision, steps that are extra simple, and ones that are intricate and complex. What do we call these steps? Should the differences between them be highlighted or emphasized within the art form? Would identifying universal movements and types of step help when it comes to the art form gaining a footing in the professional dance arena?

The closest thing to step on Broadway is the production STOMP. This performance showcases, a “unique combination of percussion, movement and visual comedy”. STOMP is a great show, no doubt, BUT IT IS NOT STEP! Don’t you think it’s about time form step, I mean real step, to hit Broadway?

As of now yes it is true that step has been seen in movies such as “Stomp The Yard”, but it is still impossible to name one professional stepper. We see all too often that step is considered to be a recreational art form that people don’t consider as an option professionally. The history of step is generally unknown and there is little to no emphasis placed on technique. How do we change this? What needs to happen for us to see step taken seriously and widely appreciated as an art form?

Let’s talk about it….