HACC's Stompdown will be held in the James Evans Physical Education Center on HACC's Harrisburg Campus, February 26, 7-10 p.m. Last year's Stompdown attracted more than 500 people.
Sororities, fraternities and school groups from the region will demonstrate their own unique styles of "stepping" at the Stompdown.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Advance tickets are available at the Office of Student Life in Cooper Student Center on the Harrisburg Campus, (717) 780-2525; Student Activities Office at the Gettysburg Campus (717) 337-3855, ext. 3031; Student Activities Office at the Lancaster Campus (717) 358-2850; and Lebanon Campus (717) 270-6316; Mr. Mike's Records at 27 S. 3rd Street in Harrisburg (717) 234-3181; and Music Man Records at Kline Plaza in Harrisburg (717) 233-4236.
HACC's Stompdown is a family friendly event. Ticket information is available from HACC's Office of Student Life at (717) 780-2525. Proceeds from the Stompdown will benefit HACC scholarships.
Stepping is an original art form dating to the 1920s when African American fraternities added synchronized dance steps to singing performances at national fraternity conventions. A few years later, women in sororities began their own form of stepping.
The military influence of World War II added another dimension to stepping with marching and line formations implemented by African Americans. Soon stepping became an intimate part of African American Greek-lettered organizations.
Stepping evolved further in the 1950s and 1960s with musical groups singing acapella. When groups including The Temptations and The Four Tops were popular, African Americans started mimicking their steps. With the influence of "Black Power" and Africa-centered movements of the 1960s, stepping started to flourish with the incorporation of some traditional African ritual dancing and other elements like cheerleading, tap and gymnastics.
Stepping now has become a very intricate and demanding performance, using props, gymnastics and other elements found in team sports.