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It's more than a dance step; it's a way of life
of TheColumnists.com
Steppin' goes way back to the 1930s, before
World War II and the time when people stopped calling it "The
Lindy Hop" and rechristened it "the Jitterbug."
I first heard the term "steppin'" from my beloved Mother Rose who upon seeing me emerge all dressed up from my bedroom as a teenager in the 1950’s, she would say to me, “Well, look at you Kiddo! You must be going out steppin' tonight.” (She was right; I was.)
Another more familiar dance style that also has its roots in the Jitterbug and Lindy Hop is now called "Swing Dancing". Back in the 60s, when Chicago took the Jitterbug to a different level, it evolved into "Boppin'" Boppin' then morphed into Steppin' and is still evolving today.
Steppin' is a lot smoother than Boppin' and is composed of a little technique and a lot of style. It's the style element that hooks you on this dance.
Steppin' is a way of life, which popular R&B singer R. Kelly sings about in his recent hit tune, “Step in the Name of Love”. The tune can be heard on his Chocolate Factory album. I love the remix version best.
Steppin' is a way of life to those who love it. I mean it’s how you and your partner dress, how you practice your moves, and, fellas, there’s nothing like swinging and swaying with your Babe when the music is just right.
R. Kelly, while not one of my favorite people off stage, is one of my all time favorite R&B singers. I became aware of him coming up out of the black ghetto projects along South State Street, an area I once patrolled as a rookie cop. I guess you might say that I got caught up in the music and the Steppin' dance that came along with it. I use to frequent the clubs near 22nd street and South Michigan Avenue in Chicago where Steppin' dancing was happening.
Although Steppin' is nationally known, it is really native to Chicago. Like R. Kelly sings, “Steppin' is an art form” that stirs the soul . . . it's a rhythm as unique as the dance itself with smooth steps and even smoother turns. If you want to see this dance done or learn how to do it, you need not travel to Chicago, as there’s a DVD available on line that you can purchase.
When I first went to Chicago in 1958, I had been flown into Midway Airport on the southwest side of this great City, compliments of the US Navy. I was to wait with the rest of the recruits for the Navy bus to transport us to the Great Lakes Naval Academy for boot camp.
We had a five-hour layover between flight landing and bus pick up, so a bunch of us guys went across Cicero Avenue and 55th Street to a club that had a live dance music flashing sign. It was here that I saw a bunch of guys acting like they were afraid to ask a girl to dance, so I and a few other recruits approached the girls who were delighted that they didn’t have to dance with each other.
With a mug like mine I learned early on that the only way I would have even half a shot at meeting girls was if I could dance. I remember thinking how backward Chicago must be if this club was any indication of how guys didn’t like to dance. Man, was I ever wrong! In the years that followed I learned first hand that Chicago was arguably the best dance town in the USA! Some say that they had more ballrooms than even NYC. I heard Chicago is where the term “steppin” was coined. Even though I’m an old dude now, I can still step, especially if anyone plays that “Steppin'” tune!
I’ve been asked how did I ever get Ann Jillian’s phone number, let alone get her to marry me? I simply tell them I made her laugh and because she was a terrific dancer, we both loved Steppin'.
I remember one of our first real dates was when a great friend of mine, State Rep. Claude Murphy, took Ann and I out to the south side. We hit all the main clubs-- Tiger Lounge, Godfathers' One and Two, and many other great dancing clubs. Ann and I being white were readily accepted by even the best of the black dancers because they knew we shared their love for this great art form, Steppin'. So I think before poor Ann calmed down from all the laughs and our Steppin' moves, it was too late as we were already married.
That was only about 39-plus years ago. So, to the young readers, I say, "Listen up!" Like all those lousy diet commercials on TV claim, “If it can do it for me, think what it can do for you!”
Steppin', that is; not Jenny Craig!
©2007 by Andy Murcia. The Murcia carciature is ©2003 by Jim Hummel. The photo is the property of the author. All rights reserved. This column first posted Dec. 17, 2007.
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