How to Start a Step Team in Church

Stepping can be performed as a solo routine, but it often includes a group of at least three people.

Step dancing, or stepping, began in America as a way for African slaves to communicate with one another and pass on native customs that otherwise weren't allowed to be openly discussed. Stepping involves using the body to make rhythmic sounds. Dancers stomp, speak and clap -- and they may use props, such as canes or rhythm sticks, to convey their soulful message. Stepping has evolved to become a popular form of expression in colleges as well as in the entertainment industry, and its history and thoughtful involvement make it a wonderful instrument for praising God and keeping the attention of churchgoers, too.

Instructions

1. Decide whether the stepping team will be co-ed, youth-oriented or both. Determine what the team's focus will be. Will the dancers relay a biblical story through their movements or will the theme embrace a concept of praising God through dance?

2. Set up a meeting with your church pastor and any church official who handles worship activities. Share your ideas and work out logistics, such as where the group will practice and perform in the church. Find out if parental permission slips need to be created for minors and if the church's insurance covers a worship activity such as stepping. Inquire whether the church will provide funds for the team or if participants must pay a fee.

3. Find a choreographer or dancer familiar with stepping. Visit local dance studios, or contact traditionally black fraternities and sororities, which embrace the art of stepping. Advertise online or in the newspaper that you're searching for a step dancer. Negotiate compensation with the choreographer, and determine whether the person will be paid from church funds or from a participation fee.

4. Place an announcement in the bulletin that you're seeking participants for a church step team. Include relevant contact information and a time and date for the first meeting. Stop by a church-sponsored youth event to recruit members.

5. Conduct your first meeting. Take a look at who attends and adjust your ideas for the team to reflect the makeup of the participants. Be flexible with the details in the beginning -- maybe you were aiming for co-ed, but only males showed up, or you wanted teens, and adults came instead. Invite the choreographer to the meeting.

6. Set up a practice schedule that works with all those involved. Teach the steps and routine, and allow enough time for everyone to be comfortable with the routine before performing in the church. Coordinate an outfit that won't distract from the dance moves or hinder movement. Consider providing T-shirts designed specifically for the team, if there's room in the budget.

7. Ask the pastor to announce when the first step team performance will be in the church, and place additional information in the church bulletin. Find a photographer or videographer to record the first dance, or ask if a church member or parent can provide those services for free. Build up excitement for the event.

8. Perform at your best, and celebrate the accomplishment. Discuss with team members afterward what improvements, if any, need to be made. Determine if stepping will be a regular activity at the church, depending on how well-received the performance was.

Tips & Warnings

• Remain on top of recruitment because members may come and go at any time due to personal reasons or other obligations. Create a social media page or provide information about the step team on the church's website so that anyone interested in joining can contact you easily.

References

• Tufts University: A Brief History of Step
• Creating Christian Stepteams: The 5 Basics to Start a Step Team from Scratch
• Creating Christian Stepteams: Starting A Step Team for Your Church or Christian Group?

Resources

• Creating Christian Stepteams: Why Have a Step Team in Church?