Sunshine State Step Show Returns

Submitted by The Paradigm Press

   After two years, the Sunshine State Step Show returns in-person with a live audience, stage lights, and stage presence of the National Panhellenic Council (NPHC), also known as the Divine Nine,  a composite of historically Black sororities and fraternities: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Iota Phi Theta, Fraternity Incorporated, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated,

This year’s Sunshine State Step Show was much anticipated by the members of the National Panhellenic Council, as their theme of this year’s step show was titled Level Up with the inspiration of video games as members of their respected organization were able to come up with their own theme and step.

When asking the following members of the Divine 9 to share their thoughts of what they’re looking forward to at the Sunshine State Step Show, Sidney Moore, who is a Junior, and Fall 2021 initiate of Upsilon Theta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, says that it is his first time ever competing in the Sunshine State Step Show. He says that the last in-person Sunshine State Step Show was in 2019, and remembers how energetic the crowd was that night. “I’m looking forward to the crowd. The last time we had an in-person show was in 2019 and the crowd that night was crazy! I’m sure when Saturday night comes, we’ll all feed off of that energy,” Moore said.

The members of The Upsilon Theta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated were able to showcase their way of what it was like to level up with the inspiration of the video game, Mortal Kombat, wearing ninja costumes.

Some members who have or have not participated in the Sunshie State Step Show before had a shared amount of mixed feelings of what it was like to be able to make a comeback after more than a year-long hiatus with a lot of mixed feelings of excitement or even anxiety.

  PJ, who is a Junior, and Fall 2021 initiate of the Omicron Gamma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated shares that this is his first time performing at the Sunshine State Step Show. “It feels good performing. It’s been something I used to enjoy watching before joining and, now I’m actually doing it,” he said.

As the inspiration for the use of video games continued, members of Omicron Gamma Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated were influenced by the video game series, MLB The Show and were able to call it MLB: The Nupe Show with red customized baseball uniforms.

Johnson Sinophat, a Senior and Fall 2021 initiate of the Alpha Beta Iota Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, shared his ambivalent feelings of nervousness and excitement of being the return to future step shows and so forth. “To be honest, I don’t know how I should feel. There’s excitement and nervousness that we’re all feeling being the first in-person Sunshine State Step Show since the pandemic, but it’s cool because we’ll be the ones setting the bar for future step shows,” Sinophat said.

Members of the Alpha Beta Iota Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated were able to showcase their talent in stepping with the influence of the video game, Street Fighter, while also wearing Martial Art Gi to embody the video game really well.

Other members were able to share what they wanted the audience to know about the Sunshine State Step Show.

Quiara Green, who is a senior, and Fall 2020 initiate of the Pi Eta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, says that she wants people to understand the preparation and time it took for not only herself but also,  her sorority sister, Annicyea to do in order to make sure everything is perfect. “Annicyea and I have been preparing for three consecutive semesters now for a show and are glad that the time is finally near to show people all the tears and sweat that it took to get here. No matter what happens, my sister and I will be putting our best foot forward and leaving it all on stage. I can’t wait to see what everyone else has prepared as well!” Green said.

Members of the Pi Eta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated were inspired by the Nintendo video game series, Wii Sports while expressing their steps in the sports of tennis, bowling, and boxing.

Marlon Poteat, a Junior and Spring 2021 Initiate of the Sigma Delta Delta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, expressed that he wants people to know that the members of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated are well rounded men, as well as being creative. “We love to be creative and have a great time and make the people around campus happy. The Ques are our friends,” Poteat said.

The Sigma Delta Delta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated members embodied the role of the Nintendo video game series, Mario Kart, with the members on stage dressing up as a few of the characters.

  The Xi Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated were able to embody their role of being in a video game by gaining the idea of the video game series, Call of Duty. While performing their step show, the members of the Xi Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated had a mission of showcasing their unique steps for mental health like stress and anxiety.

Including the members of the Pi Eta Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated, they were able to represent the video game series Guitar Hero with having a rock star inspired look, and fake guitars while performing.

Meanwhile, the members of The Sigma Iota Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, were inspired by the NBA 2K basketball game series. Using the concept of competing in the NPHC basketball championship, with green basketball jerseys to enhance the look.

     The 25th annual Sunshine State Step Show concluded for the sororities, in which members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated placing first and the members Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated placing second. At the same time, members Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated placed first with members Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated being the runner up.

With just after a two year hiatus, it has been proven that the Sunshine State Step show was a success amongst all the organizations within the Divine 9, as they were able to level it up to the expectation that the Sunshine State Step Show has returned.