District of Columbia Chapter Supports Honorary Member and Step Afrika

On Saturday, September 26, 2015, after their regular chapter meeting, the members of Beta Chapter in Washington, DC, took a trip to see the culminating performance of the Step Afrika! Step Xplosion Tour. A free performance series sponsored by the City Fund, Step Xplosion toured all eight wards of Washington and closed out in Ward 4 at the Raymond Recreation Center in the Petworth neighborhood.

Step Afrika!, which is entering its 21st year, is the first professional company devoted the the poly-rhythmic, percussive style of dance known as stepping. The syncretic art form was created by African American fraternity and sorority members as a means of uniquely expressing pride in their membership. Stepping has since been adopted by youth groups, church groups, non-black Greek letter organizations, and amateur teams of all age groups.

Honorary member Christopher Brient has been a member of Step Afrika! since 2009. He was initiated into Gamma Xi Phi in Summer 2013.

Other groups which performed at Step Xplosion included Dem Raider Boyz, Eleanor Roosevelt High School; K.A.O.S.S. (Kids Always On the Same Step); Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; QuaDrew Step Team, Howard University; and University of Maryland S.T.E.P.P. (Students Towards Educational Progress and Philanthropy). The show was hosted by Deja Perez of 93.9 WKYS.