The Divine Nine, or historically Black Greek organizations, may captivate their audiences by demonstrating impactful and precise movements that honor African American history. This performance is known as stepping.
Stepping is a percussive, energetic art form in which the body becomes an instrument by using claps, footsteps and spoken word to produce rhythms, according to Step Afrika, a professional dance company that performs step routines nationally and internationally. This creative medium was first developed through dance and song rituals performed by African American fraternities and sororities.
Along with stepping, these organizations, such as Alpha Kappa Alpha, Phi Beta Sigma and Kappa Alpha Psi, also stroll, said Damien Duncan, a WKU alumnus and coordinator of events and operations at Downing Student Union.
“When it comes to strolling and stepping, the main difference is rhythmic steps,” Duncan said. “Strolling is more fun, more loose and you do it along to songs. With stepping, it’s typically by itself; it makes its own beat.”
At fraternity gatherings, brothers convene to create new strolls to songs they enjoy, Duncan said. They include slapping their bodies and clapping under their legs. Divine Nine organizations also hold stroll-offs, or events where members of different organizations all stroll collectively.
Similar to stepping, strolling is a visual representation of the bond that connects members of an organization but is mixed with modern dancing. Strolling is a long-standing tradition designed to honor African American culture and roots, according to Alpha Phi Gamma’s website.
Dasia Finch, a Louisville senior and vice president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, said stepping is designed to showcase Black culture and shed light onto the oppression that African Americans still experience in modern times. There is purpose behind the movements and precision within their sounds, all of which honor their ancestors, she said.
“During that time, being an African American in the United States just wasn’t the best, and these organizations sprouted out of wanting better for the community,” Finch said. “African Americans banded together and recognized that there was a change that needed to happen.”
All of these movements trace back to African tribal dances, Louisville senior and Phi Beta Sigma member Jaedyn Embry said. Organizations use these movements as a tool to captivate the audience and convey their history.
During a time when African Americans were being denied essential rights and facing racial isolation on predominantly white campuses, a need for Black communities to align themselves with other individuals who shared their interests and goals became prevalent, according to the NPHC’s website. This formed the NPHC, also known as the Divine Nine, in 1930 at Howard University.
The focus of NPHC member organizations is community awareness and activism through cultural, economic and educational service activities, according to the website. The Divine Nine is made up of five fraternities and four sororities.
The Divine Nine provides a sense of brotherhood, Embry said. He said this second family may become the main support system for those who lack one at home.
“It’s so nice to feel supported by people that look like you and want you to succeed,” Embry said. “Seeing people that are successful that look like us, it’s motivating.”
Growing up in a small predominantly white area, Breckinridge County, Duncan said coming to WKU was a culture shock. Having all nine organizations at a predominantly white institution (PWI) to support people of color showed him representation he hadn’t seen before.
“Wow, I’m in a PWI, but I see a lot of people of color. I see lots of students of color. I see lots of professional staff of color,” Duncan said, “It just goes to show like, wow, it’s a very diverse world.”
Although they are not all founded on the same principles, all the organizations came together for the same cause, Duncan said. They are a family that is bonded together through the NPHC.
“The bond of the Divine Nine is, ‘Oh there’s Ks and reds getting along; There’s Sigmas and Zetas together; there’s multiple organizations bonding with each other and building that relationship,’” Duncan said. “We got different letters, but we’re still friends.”
Damien Duncan
“I’m there regardless of the time, regardless of the day, regardless of where or when. You’re a lifelong brother.”
Members of these organizations, whether current brothers or alumni, connect through learning and partaking in stepping, Duncan said.
“Everybody just joins together, ‘You wanna learn the step ‘In Our Hands,’ you wanna learn ‘Soul’ or even ‘Let’s do, ‘Let’s Get It’ because everyone knows that.’ It’s something we set out to do together as a fraternity,” Duncan said.
Each fraternity and sorority has its own movement and songs when it comes to strolling. Members of Phi Beta Sigma perform the “Crazy Legs” dance to the song “Sigma Walk,” and Kappa Alpha Psi brothers shimmy to “Pretty Boy Swag,” Duncan said.
“Whether you’re from Louisville or K State, whether you’re from anywhere, you know this general stroll; it brings us together,” Duncan said.
While stepping is practiced at social gatherings, it is also performed competitively, Embry said.
Embry said the Divine Nine is a lifelong brotherhood and sisterhood, and current members feel immense support from their alumni. They provide help with step choreography and attend events.
“At the end of the show last year, we had Sigmas from all over the state and alumni brothers come visit,” Embry said. “At the end, when they announced the winners and we won, they all got up on stage and we performed our unified step together. Those senses of camaraderie is just uplifting.”
Duncan said as an alumnus, he holds his brothers accountable but has their back regardless.
“I like to let them know, ‘You can come to my office between classes, come to my office and hang out, come to my office and just talk about something,’” Duncan said. “Just allowing them to know that I’m there regardless of the time, regardless of the day, regardless of where or when. You’re a lifelong brother.”
Duncan said he enjoys stepping now just as much as he did when he was in college. He said it was initially intriguing, and he strived to learn more about it.
“It has a bit of razzle-dazzle to me; it was really fun and really new to me, but I enjoyed it and do to this day,” Duncan said.
Stepping tells a story through differing dynamics and precision, Finch said. Coming from a dance background, she said she relished in the uniqueness of stepping. Even though it was difficult, she felt sure of herself while performing.
“Whenever I do it I feel very accomplished,” Finch said. “I feel confident in what I’m doing, and I feel accomplished in my abilities and in representing my sorority the best way I could.”
Embry said he was nervous about stepping because it was different from his background in cheer. However, after pushing himself to learn, he said he felt an overwhelming sense of pride.
“I was nervous because it was out of my comfort zone. I never had to do something like that. But the process of learning the steps and perfecting them has really taught me a lot and helped me expand my horizons,” Embry said. “I feel proud being able to educate an audience while also keeping them entertained.”
Duncan said seeing Phi Beta Sigma grow from a couple of people performing when he was in the fraternity in 2016 to 10 people performing in 2024 has been astounding. He said he hopes to see those numbers grow as the organization ages.
“Watching them get out there and doing international shows and winning at regionals and winning at state and winning all these awards, oh that’s great,” Duncan said.
He said he feels immense joy watching the Divine Nine perform. He loves the step shows and yard shows, but his favorite is watching stroll-offs.
“Seeing the difficulty and the intricacy of their steps and strolls is really great to see, especially knowing where they came from and then realizing where they are now,” Duncan said. “I just enjoy it; I enjoy it all.”
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