Stepping is a tradition rooted in the Black collegiate experience. Whether from Black Greek life, or entire organizations dedicated to the craft, it is something that is demonstrated in the media, as seen through movies like Stomp the Yard or TV shows like A Different World.

Here on the Indiana University campus, it is typically associated with CultureFest during Welcome Week, and during the annual Homecoming Step Show. Historically Black fraternities and sororities, such as Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., are some of the groups that are known for this tradition.

Rooted in African history, the gumboot dance, created in South Africa, was initially used for miners without means of communication. As slaves made their way to America, this tradition continued.

A means of hidden code and a way to keep true to their cultural roots, slaves led the gumboot dance transition into stepping. And co-captain Arie Martin wants the campus to know all of this.

A junior studying political science and African American and African Diaspora Studies, Arie Martin, has been stepping since high school with her cheerleading squad at Herron High School in Indianapolis. And outside of Black Greekdom, Martin did not see one of her favorite talents demonstrated here at Indiana University.

“That’s my main goal with L.E.G.A.C.Y., just to have step touch- not just Black people’s lives, but other people’s lives, because I feel thoroughly that it is a communal form of art,” Martin said.

As seen through the squad members, representation is important. Despite being an African American tradition, the team has members of various ethnic backgrounds.

The treasurer of the organization, freshman Jocelyn Medina, saw this as a fun opportunity, wanting to branch out and experience different things that the campus has to offer. However, as she has spent more time with teammates she says she has come to learn the important history behind the activity today.

“As a Latina, I saw this as something different,” Medina said. “Because here at IU, I feel like there is not really- there’s a lot of diversity, but at the same time, there’s not a lot of diversity.”

Multicultural based Greek organizations such as Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (Latina based), and Kappa Gamma Delta Sorority (Asian based), have picked up the behind the tradition and incorporated it as part of their organizations’ cultures.

Even outside of a college setting, stepping is a form of dance popularized within the African American community. Drill teams, such as the South Shore Drill team, utilize this performing art as a means of keeping inner-city kids focused and a positive refuge.

Yet, as Martin said, stepping is a communal form of art. It brings together people of various backgrounds and interests to come together for something that they are passionate about and be able to share that with the general public.

However, for anyone who considers him or herself a novice or untalented, that is fine. The only thing that stepping requires is an ability to follow and dedication; everything else will fall in place.