Several college step teams from across the state performed to a full house in the Student Union theatre on Saturday for Spring Extravaganza, the largest collegiate step competition in New York State.
The show, hosted by UB Step Troupe, featured step teams from eight colleges competing for the right to call themselves the best college steppers in New York.
The show began with the introduction of the judges, all former UBST members and the singing of the black national anthem. UBST then did a short skit in which their members were practicing difficult steps in a routine.
The first team competing was Envy Step Team from SUNY Oswego. The members played mimes, wearing all black with white masks. Their routine incorporated a follow the leader style as well as marionette motions during transitions and spirit fingers.
Next was Poison Ivy from Daemon College, who did a prison battle theme for their routine, with stepping instead of fighting. Prison master Otis did a roll call for the members, introducing each colorfully named 'inmate' to the stage.
"My name is ab-ce-dee," said one inmate whose name was spelled Abcde.
Black Ice from York University did a "Kill Bill" theme with female members dressed as Uma Thurman. Their step featured fighting moves including kicks and hook punches. There was even a news reporter there asking the members why they wanted to kill Bill. Their replies were verses from songs such as Irreplaceable by Beyonce, played by the DJ.
"We want to perform well since we're not an American school. We want to change the bias," said Renae Roberts, president of Black Ice.
The Lady Black Birds from Long Island University began their step in the formation of a bird. They wore African prints over their clothes and stepped to the beat of a drum. They incorporated several dance moves into their steps and blew glitter at the crowd at the end of their routine.
"We always have a surprise," said Teshana Archer, president of Lady Black Birds.
Before intermission, UBST did another skit in which a new member put their own spin on a routine the team had been practicing, giving a slight hint for the theme of their own performance, based on the movie "Drumline."
The LeMoyne Dolphin Steppers from LeMoyne College opened the second half of the show. Their theme was Step 101, in which they instructed the crowd on the main components of making a step team. They did basic steps, confusion steps and the LDS step and explained that synchronization, self motivation and creativity were the keys to creating a good step team.
The G-Steppas from SUNY Geneseo were a crowd favorite. Being together for only six months, this was their first step competition.
"I want people to know that Geneseo has a step team and that we're very good," said Captain Christina Brown.
The G-Steppas riled up the crowd after one member lost her shoe and then kicked off the other shoe to continue stepping. Various other members then kicked off their own shoes in a gesture of camaraderie.
Following was Step Expression from Buffalo State College with a back to basics theme. They wore white shirts and black slacks with suspenders and top hats and adorned orange and black striped sticks which they used as apart of their routine. Their routine included their male members stepping blind folded as well as doing push ups with female members on their backs.
"We're very creative. We think outside the box," said Anna Li, president of Step Expression.
The final competitors were Phenomenon Step Team form Cornell University. Their theme was a mental facility and the members wore pink and blue scrubs. They began with a sedated step after nurses came onto the stage and gave them their medication and once the nurses had gone, they began their real step. Transitions were accented by twitching and over-zealous grins by various members.
After the competition portion of the show was a Greek exhibition with sorority Omega Phi Beta and fraternity Phi Beta Sigma performing step/dance routines while the judges decided on the winner.
UBST then performed the finale. Members wore uniform dresses apart of their marching band theme. They drummed on ceramic plates and incorporated elaborate formations, including one in the shape of 07' into their routine, granting them some of the loudest cheers of the night.
All competition teams were then called to the stage to announce the winner. The teams were judged on synchronization, voice clarity, introduction and exit, originality, creativity, entertainment value, enthusiasm, difficulty, transition steps and precision.
Step Expression from Buffalo State College came in third place and G-Steppas from SUNY Geneseo came in second place. First place went to Phenomenon Step Team form Cornell University.
"I'm glad that the show started on time and that none of the competing teams cancelled," said Herlynne Pierre, publicity coordinator and member of UBST.
Spring Extravaganza was sponsored by the New York City Police Department, the UB Law Library, the Intercultural Diversity Center, Greek Life, Educational Opportunity Program, African Student Association and Indian Student Association.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
