When the LT Steppers take the stage to captivate crowds, be it in LT’s fieldhouse or Atlanta, Ga., they are not only shaking the floorboards with their passionate stomps. They are shaking the preconceived notions in the audience of what it means to be a part of not only a dance team, but a family.

The back of last year’s team shirt proudly states “INDIVIDUALLY WE ARE SEPARATE BEATS, TOGETHER WE ARE ONE SOUND”. Under that mentality and the experienced 17-year leadership of math teacher and Coach (Mama) Tamaika Killins, that team achieved a second place finish in state and a 10^th place finish in nationals in Atlanta.

Step competitions are judged on 15 different criteria, but they are primarily based on the performance’s Theme Originality, Vocal Clarity, Showmanship and Precision (unison of body movement), Killins said. Each performance has a theme and is a skit that involves creating a unique beat with clapping, stomping and body slapping. Themes range from fashion shows to Mario Bros., and outfits for both male and female steppers go with the theme. It can be summed up as a mix of dancing, acting and gymnastics.

“When I started as a freshman, I only heard people talk about us looking forward to our performance at the all-school,” Captain Melissa Munrroy ‘16 said. “But as we’ve gotten more advanced and noticed with our successes at state and nationals, we’ve definitely gotten more acknowledged at LT.”

The National Step Association Co-ed competition was held this past summer in Atlanta. Fourty-seven teams from across the country competed. LT Steppers brought home the 10^th place finish, the best in LT history, as well as the competition’s Sportsmanship award.

“Nationals were a pretty fun experience. It was my first time on a plane and I was a little freaked out but I had Coach Killins to calm me down,” Captain Robert Cole ’17 said. “[Southern teams] have a very different way of stepping than we do up North, so seeing what they brought compared to what we can do as a Steppers family was pretty interesting.“

On April 25, 2015, months prior to the event in the south, the team took on other Illinois teams head to head in DeKalb. The Illinois Stepping League (ISL) hosted the event. The team took home a second place finish and is ready to rock the stage this year on April 15, Killins said.

An overwhelming majority of the students involved consider this club to be the most influential thing in their high shcool careers. The sense of community is like nothing else, Tatiana Walton ’18 said.

“In middle school, I joined five clubs, and I didn’t find anything like what I found here,” Samantha Diaz ’17 said. “We practice so hard and give everything we’ve got. That’s the best part. We’re a family and we argue but we accomplish such great things together.”

Starting with 12 girls in 1999, the Steppers team has had over 100 students at times and is now co-ed. This year, there are 43 consistent members, 32 of whom compete, Killins said. Some students choose to not compete and help out with fundraisers and things like the Martin Luther King Jr. cultural celebration.

“We’re the most diverse club there is. Male, female. Black, Hispanic, Asian, Caucasian, Middle Eastern. Doesn’t matter to us,” Killins said. “We even had a Muslim Stepper, Hanan Kishta ’09, who followed the wajib, the clothing rules of her religion. We accommodated for her not being able to show her arms and legs.”

LT is four-percent African American, but the team is primarily black. Because of this, black students are sometimes assumed to be steppers by other students when they are not. Over the past 17 years, there has been a shift in the school’s attitude toward the team, Killins said.

“People come up to me, ask if I’m a stepper and they try to step and it’s cute,” Captain Lydia Colazzo ‘16 said. “People doubt themselves and say ‘oh I can’t be in steppers,’ but it really is easy. Most of my white friends say they’re not coordinated, but anybody can do it. Trust me, I didn’t have it either as a freshman- we teach you that.”

Despite high levels of energy from all members of the team, upperclassmen leadership is hard to retain due to a handful of factors, Killins said.

“Of our 43 steppers, I have two seniors,” Killins said. “The reason it tends to die off towards the end is because they have their licenses and have to get jobs or focus on college visits and scholarship applications. But we support one another no matter what.”

The Steppers are hosting their second ever home competition on Saturday, April 30. Teams from all surrounding states will be in attendance. There will be food, fun and friendship provided, Killins said.

“People get excited at the all-school and they get excited whenever they see us because of the flare we bring,” Cold said. “Some people say that they aren’t ‘black’ enough to step. The reality is we’re already diverse and if you live with an open mind, you can learn anything.”