This past Wednesday I had the fortune of stumbling upon the most lively and entertaining event that I have ever attended on FSU’s campus. The National Pan-Hellenic Council was hosting its first-ever Stroll Off, which I knew little about going into the event. In fact, I mistook it for another occasion happening at the same time in Club Down Under, the one I was supposed to be reviewing today, but once I sat down, I just couldn’t leave. The energy was captivating and no part of me wanted to miss it.
For some brief context, Strolling is a celebrated aspect of Multicultural Greek life. It was created to show unity and strength among the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities, respectively. The dances performed by those involved in this organization are a long-standing tradition and each house has its own dance unique to them. Stroll Offs put that tradition into competition form, allowing each house to display its unique choreography which combines their strolls, the black tradition of stepping and dancing into a lively showcase of rhythm, culture, and most importantly, unity among the community.
I got the pleasure of watching the performances live, and I can honestly say I’ve never witnessed anything like it. I’ve seen some clips of stepping and strolls, but those clips didn’t do the experience of being there justice. With the help of some very charismatic hosts, six of the divine nine houses came together in a celebration of pride for their respective sororities and fraternities and the traditions that have been established within those organizations which have withstood generations. It was one of the most riveting displays of a bond shared between the brothers and sisters of a shared organization that I’ve ever seen.
The energy was electric, and the performances were strong and unwavering in their displays of creativity, strength, and solidarity with one another. The Stroll Off the University hosted on Wednesday consisted of six of the divine nine organizations with differing sizes in their respective lines taking part in the show.
Omega Psi Phi
They opened with the “Mighty MIGHTY” Chi Theta Chapter of the Omega Psy Phi Fraternity otherwise known as the Cobra Ques, and they set the tone for the whole event. Despite their small number of three members, their confidence and stage presence filled the empty space that surrounded them. They opened with a karate routine that broke the ice, they moved in sync with the kind of strong presence professional performers spend years of their careers trying to master. That presence didn’t waver throughout their three rounds of performing. They remained well coordinated and highly enjoyable to watch as they shifted gears from karate to old school to classic step.
Phi Beta Sigma
They were followed by the brothers of the “Mighty” Mu Epsilon Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. They would go on to win the fraternity side of the competition and after watching them put on a show for three rounds straight, it was well deserved. They opened with a boxing-inspired routine with great footwork and only a fraction of the energy they would give in future rounds of the event. In the second round, they went all out. Their Michael Jackson-inspired routine consisted of a wardrobe change, well-executed choreography, and a short but sweet solo moment. By the time their third routine came about, the response from the crowd had become so loud, it drowned out some of the music from their routine. They were captivating from start to finish and watching the boys in blue perform is truly an experience worth remembering.
Delta Sigma Theta
Next up came the extraordinarily impressive Kappa Epsilon Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. They were truly a highlight of the whole event for me, these ladies sure know how to put on a show. They stayed true to their initially established ode to the King of Pop himself throughout their three rounds. The deltas started strong and finished even stronger. Strong choreography that incorporated some admirable cheerleading stunts that got a rousing reaction from the crowd. Not to mention the support their fellow sisters showed from the sidelines, it’s no wonder they were able to take home the gold in the sorority section of the strolling competition.
Alpha Phi Alpha
They were followed by the Iota Delta Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and they did not disappoint. The Alphas performed strongly in their three rounds, throwing in a stunt or two of their own with unshakable confidence from each member. They were so much fun and generated a strong level of support from the crowd. I admire the consistency, especially when one member lost their hat after a stunt and didn’t miss a beat nor stop to pick it up. Like every other group that performed, there was not a dull moment in their performance to be found and their energy was infectious.
Zeta Phi Beta
The lovely ladies in blue came next with matching blue jumpsuits and fun consistent choreography to a nostalgic crowd favorite, Missy Elliot. The energy and confidence the “Ravishing” Rho Kappa Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated brought to the stage rose with each performance and as the competition went on, you could tell the fun they were having did as well. They moved in sync and the bonds of their sisterhood bled through their performance. It was then that a few of the other performers made their way to the back of the audience where I sat, and I was lucky enough to hear some of their feedback. They were cheering them on, and for much of the competition, it was easy to hear their words of friendly competition and even of awe at some of the choreography and stunts their opponents put on. The Zetas finished strong, with even more spirit and confidence than they began with. The joy they felt while performing was easy to see on their faces, which furthered the atmosphere of celebrating the event encapsulated.
Kappa Alpha Psi
The “Award-Winning” Theta Eta Chapter Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated followed the ladies in blue, and they brought suave with them. The Nupes pulled out all the stops, from customized costumes to props that made them stand out. They came to entertain and entertain they did. Unlike many of the high-energy performances that the Nupes did incorporate into their routines, their slow smooth approach put their own spin on the competition. Charisma oozed off the members as they performed with a calm and cool demeanor with debonair in each of their self-assured movements on stage. Their sense of debonair was not missed by the crowd and at some points, it felt as if the performances were meant for respective love interests who awaited in the crowd. A swoon-worthy performance that left the impression that given the chance, any member of the organization could sweep you off your feet with ease.
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Last but certainly not least, The Zeta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated took the stage. These ladies truly lived up to their title as “The Glamour Chapter” with their performance and all the details they put into it. The AKAs started the show pretty in pink and maintained a confident attitude throughout their performances. Ending the first with a well-executed solo that left the crowd going wild. They kept their routines short and sweet but didn’t fail to leave an impression on the audience watching with their boldness and poise. The rest of the audience walked away with similar notions, I even heard someone behind me tell their friend that their future wife was on that stage shortly after their second performance during the third intermission.
Despite all these wonderfully coordinated displays of divine pride, the highlight of the show for me by far had to be the fourth intermission. When members from the respective sororities and fraternities began to show their pride through their strolls regardless of if they had taken part in the actual performance. The sense of unity and unapologetic pride in their status as brothers and sisters of the divine nine was truly a remarkable sight. Watching their lines cross and their respective strolls and routines in the crowd with just as much energy if not more than what we saw on stage was awe-inspiring. They chanted, they stepped, and they danced, and despite only one fraternity and sorority claiming the win, everyone felt victorious.
Just to be in the room felt like an honor to me as a young black woman on campus, to watch that display of black excellence and joy is a feeling I hope to never forget. And maybe one day, I will even experience it firsthand for myself as a part of one of these great organizations. But for now, I’m content just bearing witness.
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