Soulstepping: African American Step Shows Book

Stepping is a complex performance that melds folk traditions with popular culture and involves synchronized percussive movement, singing, speaking, chanting, and drama. Developed by African American fraternities and sororities, it is now practiced worldwide. Soulstepping is the first book to document the history of stepping, its roots in African and African American culture, and its transformation by churches, schools, and social groups into a powerful tool for instilling group identity and community involvement. Elizabeth C. Fine's vibrant portrayal of the cultural politics of stepping covers the spread to new venues and participants, including Latino and Asian American Greek-letter organizations. She draws on interviews with individuals on college campuses and steppers and stepping coaches from high schools, community groups, churches, and dance organizations as she traces the widespread growth of stepping and uncovers the controversies surrounding it.