Alphas bring fire

By Bresha Pierce
Reporter

The Tau Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. will host its 11th annual Battle on the Burning Sands step show at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Waco Hippodrome.

The step show is a competition among fraternities and sororities from Baylor and other universities that come together to celebrate the art of stepping.

“Stepping is using your body as an instrument,” said Sachse junior and Alpha Phi Alpha member Kyle Fuller.

Along with cool art and rhythm, the step show will feature a guest host and DJ. In the past, the fraternity has invited celebrities such as Shawty, who was featured on the TV show “Wild ’N Out;” Fonzworth Bentley from “Making the Band 2;” and Pooch Hall from the BET hit series “The Game.”

“We expect a great turnout as we have every year due to our special guest host, talented acts and entertaining after party,” said Missouri City junior and Alpha Phi Alpha member Jordan Campbell.
Fuller said stepping requires intense teamwork and dedication.

“The key is for everyone to be on the same page because if not the sound can be off,” Fuller said. “It requires coordination and often weeks of practice.”

Campbell said the event will be used to give back to the Waco community.

“It is a fundraiser that allows us to provide scholarships, and also enables us to positively impact the community as we reinvest money from ticket sales into our local boys and girls clubs,” Campbell said.

Alpha Phi Alpha began holding the event, which serves as a marketing tool for the fraternity, in 2005 and has a history of being the largest step show in Central Texas. First- and second-place finishers from both the men and women’s groups will win prize money.

“I encourage people to go and see what it is all about,” said Richardson junior and Kappa Alpha Psi member Corey Coleman.

“Last year the show was amazing and it was cool seeing people come together to support all the groups and have a good time.”