The National Panhellenic Council held an interactive step performance where international students learned about black history on Wednesday in honor of Black History Month.

Sisters represented from various Greek letter organizations hosted
their second step performance, which included an hour-long step
tutorial. About 20 students arrived and learned some basic moves from an online video called the HSE Stepping Tutorial, a series of videos uploaded from H.A.V.I.C. Squared Entertainment.

Students were taught basic moves from three videos, and were then
split into three groups to practice certain moves. Afterward, students made a large circle and began to do their moves in succession, creating both uniform rhythmic beats and movements.

This method is known as the trilogy, according to Nita Ocansey, a
nutritional sciences senior and member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.

“All stepping comes from African folk dance,” Ocansey said, adding
that such events that feature elements of black heritage are an
important aspect of the council.

Adrienne Caldwell, the event’s organizer and a member of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, said she believes that holding such events not
only shows pride for black heritage during black history month, but also teachers others about what stepping is and “brings the community together.”

Students from Tokyo International University attended, and Sayako
Sugitani, one of these students, said that she was not only glad to learn more about black culture, but that she “had fun and loved to learn the dance.”

Beverley Makhubele, a student activities assistant for the Center for English as a Second Language and a computer science sophomore, led the international students. She said She was glad to lead the group in learning about black history and was grateful for the opportunity to “get the best cultural experience.”