New Southland College Prep step team builds confidence, camaraderie as it honors historically Black sororities

In a few hours, 31 students at Southland College Prep will be stepping onstage to honor four historically Black sororities during Women’s History Month.

On Wednesday, they will participate in “Step N’ Herstory,” a step performance representing the sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho.

For several years, female students asked teachers and administrators about creating their own step team. The school already had a male student step team, the Kappa League.

Danielle Epson, English department chair and member of Zeta Phi Beta, approached Southland CEO Blondean Davis about putting a female team together and received the green light.

In October, students auditioned to be part of the showcase. Those who made the team chose which sorority they wished to represent. Sorority members taught the students how to step.

Stepping is a form of percussive dance in African American culture in which the entire body is used as an instrument. Dancers use their bodies to create rhythms and sounds through a mixture of footsteps, spoken word and hand claps.

Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities—Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities—Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities—Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities—Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities—Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. | Anthony Vazquez/Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Students representing four sororities practice a group step Tuesday during dress rehearsal at Southland College Prep Charter High School at 4601 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. Students participating in the Step showcase will be representing the four Divine Nine sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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“They [students] had been asking about it for years before we were even actually able to bring it to fruition, so they’re really excited about it,” Epson, 43, said. “I feel like they’re getting a true sense of sisterhood, and they’re working together and learning discipline. It’s really good to also see the students who aren’t involved get excited and cheering them on.”

Kelly Barksdale, a junior, says that since joining the team she’s been able to build bonds with other students while also learning more about what each sorority represents.

“We’ve gotten to make new friendships with people we wouldn’t normally talk to at school and get to know teachers a bit more outside of the classroom,” she said.

Epson says she’s noticed changes in the students since they began practicing.

“They’ve come a long way,” Epson said. “All these months you can definitely see the evolution. They’re more confident in themselves and don’t get so discouraged.”

Throughout the journey, the students say after they’ve gotten to know more about the sororities, they’re considering joining one when they get to college.

“I knew I wanted to pledge, but I didn’t know what I wanted to pledge,” said junior Janessa Ravazee. “I come from a family of mostly Deltas and AKAs.”

Many students, families and members of the Divine 9 — four sororities and five fraternities — will attend the 6 p.m. performance at Southland College Prep, 4601 Sauk Trail, in south suburban Richton Park.

“I’m going to be nervous until it’s over, but I’m excited to see their hard work,” Epson said.