You may be acquainted with the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) by its Greek affiliation, but call-offs, stepping and strolls are major cornerstones of NPHC subculture as well. Members use them to assert pride in their organizations. In honor of these subcultural traditions, on Feb. 21 at 8 p.m., Kenan Auditorium will once again host the annual Port City Step Show, now in its 16th year.  

Some of the organizations competing are UNC Wilmington’s Alpha Kappa Alphas, the Phi Beta Sigma chapter of Raleigh-Durham College, the Phi Beta Sigma chapter of Bowling Green State University and the Zeta Phi Beta chapter of North Carolina Central University. Steppers will compete for a grand prize of $1,000. 

“It’s like a big party of different organizations, different fraternities and sororities coming together,” said Brandon Barfield, president of the Mu Nu chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. 

Each NPHC organization is composed of a rich history, geared toward social and political activism and community service for the African-American community. Currently, UNCW has seven active NPHC chapters on campus. 

“NPHC fraternities and sororities were founded during a time of segregation. It served as an opportunity for males and females to be a part of a community of people where they shared the same beliefs and ideals,” said Desiree Taylor, president of UNCW’s NPHC and the Pi Nu chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

Stepping is one of the most distinguishable attributes of NPHC organizations that separate it from Pan-Hellenic organizations. 

“Stepping can be traced back to our African heritage with their chants and ceremonial dances, however stepping was not widely practiced by the Divine Nine organizations until the 1970s,” said Kamaria Delaney, secretary of the Omicron Phi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.  

The Divine Nine refers to the nine historically Black Greek letter organizations that serve under the umbrella of NPHC.

So what is the significance of stepping? 

“To show pride in one’s organization is the main purpose of stepping,” said Larry Crews, president of the Omicron Theta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and vice president of UNCW’s NPHC. 

“In [stepping], one gets to call off their fraternity history—a moment where people get to show their individuality from their organization,” Crews said. 

Call-offs are a call-and-response exchange between different chapters of the same NPHC organization. Hand signs unique to a particular organization are also used during this exchange. 

Kenny Gilliard, a brother in the Rho Epsilon chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity explains that these nuances can be seen in each NPHC organization during step show performances. 

“Each Greek organization has their own specific talents and things that they are known for, and then they also try to elaborate on those different techniques: hop, jump, stroll. [Whatever] they want to do at that time is when they enhance it and show off,” Gilliard said. 

Taylor defines strolling as a type of dance that is unique to a particular organization. For Barfield, strolling “is some type of line dancing.” 

The 16th Annual Port City Step Show will conclude during UNCW’s Homecoming week—an annual tradition that showcases a diversity of on-campus events for the student body. 

Taylor describes step shows as an entertaining educational learning experience. 

“Step shows allow students, faculty and the community to experience the subculture of NPHC organizations, which is stepping and strolling,” Taylor said. 

This upcoming step show will be especially exciting for Kamaria Delaney, who is a member the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.  

“This will be our first time representing [an AKA chapter] in any type of step competition and the first time our chapter has ever competed,” Delaney said. “It feels great to know that I am stepping [for] so much more than myself. I plan to give it my all.”