University of Florida's Black Student Union hosts 23rd annual step show

About 2,500 people stood solemnly in the O'Connell Center Saturday night listening to the Negro National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

A few moments later, the same crowd cheered on competing fraternities and sororities at the largest student-run invitational step show on the East Coast.

UF's Black Student Union held the 23rd annual Florida Invitational Step Show.

The event was hosted by rapper and beatboxer Doug E. Fresh.

Executive Director Shaniqua Thompson of FISS estimated the event cost about $80,000.

All nine National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities and fraternities competed for the title.

Delta Sigma Theta snagged first place for the sororities with a military-themed routine, and a zombie-themed routine earned Iota Phi Theta first place of the fraternities.

The fraternity's brothers handed out 3-D glasses, blindfolded themselves during the routine and used a stepper as a jump rope.

Twenty-year-old electrical and computer engineering sophomore Diamond Overstreet said Iota Phi Theta was most engaging, which worked in the fraternity's favor.

Le'Asia Lundy, director of UF's Black History Month committee, said people anticipate the show because of its quality.

"For 23 years, FISS has amazed the crowd with talented teams and will continue for many years to come," she said.

Each team had a 15-minute time limit, and routines incorporated "new school" and "old school" steps.

This coordinated with the theme of the night, "Back to the Basics."

 

[Editor's Note: This caption has been updated to reflect a correction. The two women in this photo were incorrectly identified as members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.]

Two women perform at the 23rd annual Florida Invitational Step Show at the O'Connell Center on Saturday night.