In honor of Black History Month, Calabasas High School hosted the 1 Global Step Team to perform stepping, a dance rooted in black culture, to the students as an optional assembly during fourth period. The event, put together by BSU and ASB, was held last Friday in the PAEC. 

“It’s in our culture to step in sororities and fraternities, especially in HBCUs (historically black Colleges and Universities). We really wanted to do something for Black History Month and we thought that was a really cool way to show and express our culture,” said Senior Sadie Johnson, President of BSU. 

A slideshow about stepping played as students entered the assembly. Johnson opened the event, explaining the background of its history and popularity in Greek Life. 

“Stepping is a percussive dance where claps, stomps, and slaps create rhythm, making the human body the main instrument,” according to the slideshow. 

1 Global Step, led by Vernon Jackson and three other members, began their performance with a step to “Peekaboo” by Kenrick Lamar. Jackson explained that all four members, including him, were wearing Martin Luther King Jr. t-shirts and Alpha Phi Alpha bomber jackets because MLK was a brother in their fraternity. Alpha Phi Alpha is the first black fraternity founded in 1906. 

“The fraternity originally served as a study and support group for African American students at Cornell, who faced racial prejudice, both educationally and socially. Today, Alpha Phi Alpha includes almost 800 college and alumni chapters located around the world,” said Detroit Alphas, the official website for the Detroit Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. 

Jackson then asked for volunteers and guided seven students through the art of stepping. He emphasized the importance of sharp, synchronized, and precise movements, which are crucial to the team’s success and help them win first place most of the time. Jackson highlighted the importance of education to 1 Global Step as he urged students to go to college. 

“We want all of you to go to college ’cause that’s what we’re about,” said Jackson. 

With experience in television, Jackson presented a video slide of multiple shows he has worked on and choreographed. He mentioned that STOMP, a show that aired from 1992 to 1996, was the first National step competition with fraternities and sororities competing nationwide. The team ended with stepping to “TV Off” by Kenrick Lamar. 

Senior Jasmine Ash, the treasurer of BSU, was excited about visually sharing a part of Black culture. 

“I hope the students got to learn about Black culture, and maybe if they didn’t know what stepping was, they got to actually see it in front of them and not just hear it,” said Ash. 

Some students found the performance entertaining and educational. 

“I thought it was really fun, cool, and inspiring,” said Sophomore Autumn Shorten. 

Many students, including Senior Sophia Kurciska, did not know what stepping was prior to the assembly. 

“I thought it was really interesting. I’ve never seen anything like that before. I learned that there are a lot of different art forms [with] really rich histories that people don’t know about,” said Kurciska. 

Weinstein, the BSU advisor and teacher at CHS, was pleased with the outcome of the assembly. 

“The whole theater was packed today which was great. We rarely get it that full for assemblies and so that was really cool we had the opportunity to do that,” said Weinstein. 

The assembly was followed by a catered luncheon hosted in the MPR, that was exclusive to staff and BSU members. A parent at CHS, Mr. Buckner sponsored and helped coordinate the event, catering and inviting successful Black speakers to share their advice on success and hardships to the members of BSU. 

“As a parent and a fellow BSU member from back in the 70s, I wanted to support the children and their effort as they start to develop their life. We invited some people who are key members in our society. Some of the children that might want to go down that road can talk to these individuals and get a little advice and hear about challenges they have had along the road,” said Buckner. 

Some of these speakers included Dr. Arleana Waller, Andre Martelly, Dr. Brian Evan, and Dan Charlier. 

“They are all very successful and I think it’s very inspiring for someone that looks like us,” said Johnson. 

Johnson thanked Courtney Peoples, Coordinator of Community and Culture at LVUSD, for finding 1 Global Step and doing the behind the scenes work for the luncheon. Peoples supports different events that foster positive community and culture like the Holocaust survivor event that was held last week. 

“It’s so nice to see student leadership in action. Hopefully we illuminated one more piece of college experience through step dance,” said Peoples. 

Johnson and Ash are excited for more BSU events planned for the future. Next week, BSU is hosting a Black History Month Spirit week that everyone can participate in. 

“It is a celebration for Black History Month and to recognize the achievements of so many people,” said Weinstein.