If you’re a Stony Brook student that has gone to any major event on campus then chances are you’ve seen Cadence Step Team perform at least once. Cadence was founded in 2004 and like their chant goes they “got that Cadence step dynasty weighing on their back” since they are currently they only step team on campus. Name: Christina Penna
Position: President
Year: Senior
Major: Psychology Major, Biology minor
Hometown: Lynbrook, New York
Name: Jordan Foster
Position: Vice President
Year: Junior
Major: Applied Math and Statistics
Hometown: Queens, New York
Name: Eileen Ofori
Position: Secretary
Year: Sophomore
Major: Art
Hometown: Niskayuna, NY
Name: Carly Pickering
Position: Treasurer
Year: Sophomore
Major: Undecided
Hometown: Holly Springs, NC
What made you join Cadence Step Team?
Christina: “I had friends who were on the team and it seemed like a lot of fun. I have experience in dance and performing and it seemed like another great way to express my creativity.”
Jordan: “I wanted to join my step team in high school but I was too scared. Then I came to college and I wanted to be brand new. I decided that my sophomore year and I joined.”
Eileen: “I wanted to join because I like dancing, stepping is not dancing, but it’s a new fun form. I learned a lot and I love it.”
Carly: “I’d say positive peer pressure made me come. When I saw the people and got to know everyone, that’s what made me stay.”
How do you think Cadence has impacted your college career?
Christina: “Being on Cadence and being on the executive board has really taught me how to really work together with people, get really close to people, and how to really rely on people to get stuff done truly as a team. It has helped me with time management, I’ve gotten better at delegating time for studying, time for fun, and time for extracurricular.”
Jordan: “I never really thought I’d be a part of any executive board but it has definitely made me more comfortable in my own skin around people because everyone here is different and its okay to be different.”
Eileen: “Being on Cadence in college has made me realize how much more time in the day there is and how many things I can actually do. Before I used to think the day was pretty short but when you spend five hours doing something you realize there’s a lot more time than you think there is.”
Carly: “I think it made me more adventurous and it made me more confident and outgoing. Being on the executive board improved my resume.” What is your favorite part of being on Cadence?
Christina: “Performing with my friends. Whenever we perform and you’re on that stage theres such an amazing energy you feel from everyone else and everyone has that same ambitious to make the show great. You really feel that high when you get off the stage and it was an awesome performance.”
Jordan: “My favorite part of being on Cadence is the people. I can walk around campus and then someone takes a picture of me and sends it to me. I don’t always know who it is but it is mostly someone on Cadence. I remember last year a member said ‘Hey Jordan!’ from across the street and it made me feel warm in my heart.”
Eileen: “When you make friends and you’re comfortable. Then you become more comfortable and suddenly you have a whole team of friends and you realize that they do like you and it’s a genuine friendship.”
Carly: “Cadence really is a family and everyone goes out of their way to say hi. Everyone is really nice and you can click with everybody. Everyone cares about you and they’re life-long friends.”
What do you think sets Cadence apart from other performing groups on campus?
Christina: “Cadence is the only step team on campus. It is similar to dance, but it is not dance. We are not a dance crew and there is a different and more intense energy from stepping that you don’t really get from dancing. I see it as a stress reliever of stomping and hitting out any stress.”
Jordan: “I haven’t been a part of a lot of other performance groups so I feel like I can’t tell from first hand experience. I feel like when you’re stepping you can fake it but you can’t really fake it. You still have to know where everything goes, in a lot of other things you can fake it. When you mess up everyone can hear you, unlike in other things where no one can tell if you mess up.”
Eileen: “The intensity is really a key feature of what we do and the power we bring to our form is very important in the way we do it.”
Carly: “I think what sets us apart is that with other dance groups you move to music, but with Cadence we are the beat and we supply it for ourselves. You really have to know where everything is and you have to rely on those around you when you do mess up to pull you back into it.” What is something you want others to know about Cadence?
Christina: “What I want people to know it is not intimidating. When I first tried out for the team I had never stepped a day in my life, besides walking, but I had a really big misconception of what stepping is. You don’t need any experience to pick it up and excel in it. If anyone is interested in joining, go for it.”
Jordan: “We are very loving people. For people who maybe don’t want to join, I want them to see us as very friendly.”
Eileen: “Cadence is a way of life. Once you start on the team you’re into it and excited, but a little later you find yourself fidgeting and stepping in your sleep. It’s in your bones, it’s in your blood and you’re happy for it.”
Carly: “I’d like people to know Cadence is not dance. We look really intimidating when we’re on a stage stepping but we’re really nice people. Once you’re here, you’re here for life.”
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