Month of December, 2009
20 Memorable Moments From 2009
Submitted by T. Pratt on Thu, 12/31/2009 - 14:25.
Doesn’t it seem like 2009 just flew by? While I so excited about the promise of the New Year, I’m also quite nervous about the prospect of what it could bring. This year we battled a recession, got an African American president, and lost the King of Pop. Some of our friends passed on, we’ve traveled to some cool Steppin events and partied like rock stars, taught dance workshops, gotten married … and divorced, started college classes and graduated … but regardless, we made it. And to be honest, making it is all that matters. While the
K'Jon "I Get Around" Video Casting Call
Submitted by T. Pratt on Wed, 12/30/2009 - 13:01.
ChiStepper.com has been enlisted to help with the casting for K'Jon's new video "I Get Around." The video shoot will take place at Mr. G's (1547 W. 87th St.
From "Junkie To Professor": An Interview With Legendary DJ, Reggie Miles
Submitted by T. Pratt on Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:00.
ChiSteppers, this interview is filled with so many twists and turns that I won't waste time with an extensive introduction. Reggie discusses everything from talking on the microphone to succumbing and then over coming substance abuse. It's one of the most in depth interviews I've conducted in some time and that's because Mr. Miles has so many wrinkles to his career. Check it out and share a word or two of feedback if you so choose!
Vote Result










Score: 10.0, Votes: 2
New Steppers Track: Alicia Keys "Unthinkable" (I'm Ready)
Submitted by T. Pratt on Mon, 12/28/2009 - 13:24.
I feel in love with this track when I first heard it, but I wondered if it qualified as a Steppers jam. So I played it for a friend who said that they'd definitely step to it. Then I played it for Sam Chatman, who loved it as well. Sam tested it out at the Dating Game on a packed Monday night and the crowd got down to it. So DJ's, here's another banger to add to your collection. Steppers, what do you think?
Merry Christmas ChiSteppers
Submitted by T. Pratt on Thu, 12/24/2009 - 17:26.
Just wanted to take a minute to tell you all Merry Christmas. As a I child I grew up poor and there were some Christmas mornings that I had absolutely nothing to open. Not having anything to open did something incredible for my life ...
New Steppers Track: Robin Thicke "It's In The Mornin'"
Submitted by T. Pratt on Wed, 12/23/2009 - 13:32.
This new Robin Thicke joint is a banger and when I played it for the Legendary Sam Chatman, he put it in rotation the very next day. I've already began an interesting dialogue about the track with reader "TheBrat" so feel free to vote on the track and leave a comment letting us know what you think!
Around Town 12.22.09
Submitted by T. Pratt on Tue, 12/22/2009 - 16:33.
Ken Bedford through another successful Christmas Party at the Alhambra Palace in downtown Chicago's south loop area. He also held a food drive to feed families during the Holiday season. Mellow Khris was on the box snapping off with the smooth Steppers music, while a film crew captured dancers for a local television show. Ken's crowd is picking up big time. Whereas I couldn't find a dance at the last event, I couldn't stay off the floor at the Christmas Party.
Steppers Mourn The Sudden Loss Of Vince Brown (Funeral Arrangements Inside)
Submitted by T. Pratt on Mon, 12/21/2009 - 13:54.
Aside from being a staunch supporter of ChiStepper.com throughout the years, I got an opportunity to know Vince much better over the past two months. Vince and I were a part of team of 6 individuals who have been working feverishly to launch the new technology platform that I presented to you all about a month ago. We talked every morning like clockwork, including the day that he passed. Vince was his usual self, rarely animated, with dry humor that would put you in the mind of a character from Seinfeld. His personality was consistent with most genius personality types w
Steppin' Featured in "Timeout" Chicago
Submitted by T. Pratt on Fri, 12/18/2009 - 17:13.
A couple of weeks back I shared with you all that "Timeout" Chicago had come to You-2-Production's set at Mr. G's to cover the party. Well, the article dropped yesterday, and by and large I thought they did a really good job. I cringed at some of the descriptions of the dance and the ostentacious imagery that thousands will read and use to analyze our dance. The reality however, is that most of what they witnessed and conveyed in the article is accurate.
Around Town 12.17.09
Submitted by T. Pratt on Thu, 12/17/2009 - 16:16.
There’s a lot for Steppers in Chicago to get into over the next week and a half, starting tonight. First up is Ken Bedford’s big Christmas Party at the Alhambra Palace located at 1240 W.
ChiSteppers ... Meet Lady Alicia!
Submitted by T. Pratt on Wed, 12/16/2009 - 17:20.
So I’m on Facebook chatting and I come across Lady Alicia. I decide to reach out to catch up and let her know that it’s time to get her on ChiStepper.com for an interview. To make sure I had the right person, I ask, “This is Lady C, right?” She say’s, “No! Hmmmm, try Lady A.” At this point, any smart person would have realized that they weren’t talking to Lady C, right?
Vote Result










Score: 9.2, Votes: 5
V-103 Steppers Ball 2002 T. Pratt & Shanelle
Submitted by T. Pratt on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 16:51.
Video:
ChiStepper TV: T. Pratt and Shanelle (V-103 Steppers Ball 2002)
Submitted by T. Pratt on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 16:45.
Here is more footage from the V-103 Steppers Ball held in 2002. At the time I'd been dancing less than two years and Shanelle was already well respected as a dancer. I was shocked that she would actually dance with me. Shanelle's popularity rose primarily because of her ability to lead the dance, which was something that was frowned upon in the early 2000's. While she certainly wasn't the first women to lead, as Darlinda Russell, Dimples, and Lynn Hutson among others had already delved into that area, she was the first new skool female to popularize it.
Miami's Tosca Carroll "Fills In The Blanks"
Submitted by T. Pratt on Mon, 12/14/2009 - 14:15.
For this episode of "Fill In The Blanks" we traveled down to South Florida, with hopes that Tosca Carroll can bring a little Sunshine to those of us in the colder parts of the country. Just off of the Black and Red ball, Tosca makes her first appearance on ChiStepper.com.
1. I can't wait for 2010 to begin!
2. I get nervous when I think of how much I've grown this year and where it's taking me.
Vote Result










Score: 0.0, Votes: 0
Miami's Tosca Carroll "Fills In The Blanks"
Submitted by T. Pratt on Mon, 12/14/2009 - 14:14.
For this episode of "Fill In The Blanks" we traveled down to South Florida, with hopes that Tosca Carroll can bring a little Sunshine to those of us in the colder parts of the country. Just off of the Black and Red ball, Tosca makes her first appearance on ChiStepper.com.
1. I can't wait for 2010 to begin!
Vote Result










Score: 0.0, Votes: 0
Around Town
Submitted by T. Pratt on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 16:19.
Every now and then two Steppin' behmoths collide on a special occassion. New Years Eve, Steppers who decide to go out will have to choose whether they will head downtown to Navy Pier with the Majestic Gents, or out to the south suburbs to the Holiday Inn -Tinely Park Convention Center for VIP Production's New Years Eve Black Tie Affair. Both groups are all pulling out all of the stops as VIP Productions have invested in radio time and will also feature a performance by The Blue Notes ft.
ChiStepper TV: Royce and Dani (V103 Steppers Ball 2002)
Submitted by T. Pratt on Thu, 12/10/2009 - 13:51.
When I saw Dani at the Ultimate Steppers Competition this past Friday, in the midst of being complimented by a gentlemen for having some big ole juicy legs, she said, "Terrance, where did you get all of this footage of me?" I said, "Dani, my archives are deep, and I have a lot more of you that you've probably never seen." So Ms. Moore, for you and the legions of Steppers who love your style, here is another video of you and Royce making it do what it do!
Put On Your "Steppers Face"
Submitted by T. Pratt on Wed, 12/09/2009 - 17:01.
There are certain morés in Steppin’ that have no technical place in the art form, but they’re purely part of the tradition and culture of the dance. Take “Steppers Sharp” for instance; Steppers understand that you have to be clean. You’re attire must fall somewhere between what you’d where to church on Sunday and what you’d where to a Black Tie event. By definition, you would never wear jeans to a party being billed as Steppers Sharp.





















