Black Greek Step Show promises to be bigger and better

COLUMBUS – After an overflow crowd of nearly 1,500 people was turned away last year because of a packed house, one of the most popular events of the African American Heritage Festival is moving to a bigger venue.

The 15th Annual Pan-Hellenic Black Greek Step Show kicks off Friday evening (5/17) at 7 p.m. in Value City Arena at The Jerome Schottenstein Center. Tickets are $12 and available at the Schottenstein Center ticket office, 1-800-GO-BUCKS, and all Ticketmaster outlets. The performance is just one of several events being celebrated this week as part of the 2002 cultural celebration.

”Since Mershon reached its capacity of 2,500 people and 1,500 were turned away at the door, it was necessary to take the step show to a bigger venue,” said Pan-Hellenic Council member and student co-chair Columbus Cotton II, a junior majoring in construction systems management. ”The Schottenstein Center is ideal because of its size and performance setting.”

Comedy performances by hosts Ms. Pat Brown and ”Lav Luv” Lavender of BET’s Comic View are included in the show. Rounding out the bill is WCKX (107.5 FM) Radio personality ”Sly Tay,” who will be on hand from 6 to 7 p.m. to meet and greet guests.

The art of group stepping is an African tradition popular in collegiate circles among African American fraternities and sororities. The theme for the Heritage Festival is Fahari, Swahili for pride, and organizers have worked hard to incorporate the theme into every event.

”The step teams that are performing produce their own shows and choreography,” said co-chair Tara Hawthorne, a junior majoring in criminology. ”This takes a lot of time and dedication. There are some late nights and weekends -- basically whatever it takes to make the performance perfect.”

Kai Landis, coordinator of student involvement in the Office of Student Activities, expects all nine historically black Greek organizations at Ohio State to perform.

”The step teams have 12 minutes to perform and will be rated by a panel of guest judges in seven different categories,” she said.

Following the show, guests will be able to cap the evening just across the street at ”Rock The Mike” Part I, which will be held from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the French Fieldhouse parking lot, 460 Woody Hayes Dr.

For a complete list of events on the 24th African American Heritage Festival log on to: http://www.osuheritagefestival.com