When she was first asked by a friend to join the step team in 7th grade, Paishance Monroe had no idea what she was talking about. But she gave it a shot and fell in love with stepping right away.
“For step you don’t smile. You mug, you look scary, you should put your power through your body, and that’s something I love to do,” Monroe said. “It’s how I can show my personality without anyone judging me. It’s a way for me to be myself and show it on stage. Coach said I gave everything she was looking for and I’ve been doing step ever since.” As team captain, Monroe works to get the other members as passionate as she is.
“It’s hard for them to get used to it. I did have to get used to it. I was embarrassed to mug regularly and try and look scary but now I love to do it and I encourage them to do it as well,” she said. “Once you get up on stage all that encouragement comes to you and you realize this is the time to do all that stuff we do in practice and they did that and we won 2nd place in our first competition.”
The team is working this year under new coach Jazmyne Magee, and they practice four times a week in the freshmen cafeteria to perfect their routine. The team has several competitions planned, as well public performances.
“I enjoy competitions, I enjoy going to practice, and at competitions I enjoy being on stage and everything, competing against people, I enjoy everything to be honest.” Sophomore Marcus Worley said.
Although they work very hard practicing there are some disadvantages in practicing in the cafe.
“It’s real small. And not like the regular stage we be performing on,” Sophomore Rihanna Mahone said. “Not having any mirrors in to see our arms when doing formations and we often get interrupted, but we don’t let that stop us from achieving what we need to get done.”
There are many things to enjoy about step not just competitions and performing, but the bonds you create with the team.
“I like stepping, and bonding with the team, and the girls there are really my sisters. Everyday at practice it’s always laughs, it’s never just dull moments at practice, and I just love the people cause everybody jokes and I just love that for us,” Mahone said.
For Monroe the bond is also similar and very special.
“I enjoy step because it gives me a place of sisterhood/brotherhood and becoming one. Of course when all in one accord we sound good and I love to step, when I step that is the time to show my personality on a completely different level,” she said
