Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/492070
APRIL 8-14, 2015 UCW 13 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM On Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m., the Crown Center will come alive as the 18th Annual East Coast Step Show brings a well-loved tradition to the community. "I'm a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated in Fayetteville, and we have been doing this event for years. The main purpose is to raise awareness about college students and to award money to the winners of the event," said Ernest Smith, coordinator of the East Coast Step Show. "This year we are awarding $5,000 to the winners of the event that consists of three categories: 1st place, 2nd place and 3rd place." Smith added that the teams will be judged on originality, step precision, unity and attitude. The event is a fund raiser for Fayetteville State University's Education Endowment Fund that was started four years ago by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be used to assist the College and Alumni Fraternity and Sorority Step Teams through scholarships, charity and community service. "Fayetteville State University will award the scholarship to a deserving high school African-American male senior that meets the criteria of grade point average and financial need," said Smith. "Our objective is to make sure the money is at the school so that the money can be awarded," said Smith. The step show was created in March 1998 and is designed to bring the talent and art of stepping to North Carolina from various parts of the country. The groups represent North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia and South Carolina. Some of the participating groups are Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated from Old Dominion University, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Incorporated from Shaw University and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority from Johnson C. Smith University. "We have various teams coming in and the local alumni chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated is also participating in the show this year. They have been a tremendous help in organizing the show as well as the Alphas," said Smith. "We also have the Omegas and Alphas from Fayetteville State University." Smith added that the Alphas won Fayetteville State University's homecoming show this past year. The stepping tradition in the United States grew out of song and dance rituals practiced by African-American fraternities and sororities in the early 1900s. It is based on a rich tradition in the African-American community that used movement, words and sounds to communicate allegiance to a group. "We have a real good lineup of alumni, step teams and collegiate step teams," said Smith. "We are working on a partnership with Cumberland County Schools and we are going to make tickets available to schools so that they can use them as incentives for the students because we want to keep them on track." Tickets range from $15 to $30 and military discounts are available with a military ID. For more information, call 438-4123. East Coast Step Show Brings Rich Tradition to the Crown by DR. SHANESSA FENNER Step teams from colleges on the East Coast will gather in Fayetteville for the 18th Annual East Coast Step Show. FTCC CONTINUING EDUCATION Train in these TOP Programs! Computer Technician Online Professional Medical Coding Online Medical Transcription Online Working in the Pharmacy Online Electronic Health Records Professional Online Medical Administrative Assistant Online Medical Billing Online Records Clerk Online Medical Coding Certification Exam Prep Online (910) 678-8446 Classes begin May 6! Call today to ask about class schedules and available scholarships! DR. SHANESSA FENNER, Principal WT Brown Elementary School, Contributing Writer.. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910.484.6200.