Professor Dr. Eric Bridges Discusses the History of Black Greek Organizations and the Importance of the Step Show in Their Culture

(February 23, 2026) - According to Dr. Eric Bridges, professor of Psychology and Director of the Honors Program at Clayton State University, “To understand the culture of the Step Show, you have to understand the origins and history of stepping in the black fraternities and sororities. It's called the Divine Nine. You have five fraternities and four sororities.”

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., founded in 1906 at Cornell University, is the only Black Greek-letter organization to be founded at an Ivy League institution. It is the oldest historically African American intercollegiate fraternity.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was established in 1908 at Howard University and was the first Greek-letter organization founded by Black college women.

Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc., is a historically African American fraternity founded in 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington.

Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity, Inc., founded in 1911 at Howard University, is a historically African American social fraternity.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., founded in 1913 at Howard University, is a historically African American sorority.

Phi Beta Sigma, Fraternity, Inc. is a historically African American fraternity founded at Howard University in 1914.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is a historically African American sorority founded in 1920 at Howard University.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., was founded in 1922 at Butler University.

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. was established in 1963 at Morgan State University.

“So stepping is a cultural retention from Africa, and fraternities and sororities were founded as forms of community,” according to Bridges. “Stepping became something that we bonded around. It was a homage to our African heritage, plain and simple. That's what it is. You can see very similar dance patterns in South Africa.”

Bridges connects the Black Fraternities and Sororities Step Show to its African roots.  “The men who used to work in the mines in South Africa would wear boots because the corporations that had them working in the mines didn't want their feet to get hurt. They still do the step dances in those same boots that the original workers wore in South Africa.”

When we asked Bridges what it felt like when he was a college student and first attended a step show, he said, “Man, to see a step show, it's like seeing a Beyoncé concert. In fact, Beyoncé even paid respect to stepping. It's just that big.” Bridges was referring to “Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé,” a 2019 documentary concert film about Beyoncé's 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival performance. Her performances paid tribute to the culture of historically black colleges and universities, featuring a full marching band and majorette dancers, while incorporating various aspects of black Greek life, including a step show and strolling by pledges.

“Bridges added, “People competing at a step show from fraternities and sororities are judged like it's a sports competition. It is, it's glamorous, it's exciting. The first step show I saw was at Morehouse, and I was just amazed. This was before I even pledged, and I just thought about the work that goes into it. It is nothing short of athletic training. You have a stepmaster, who is usually the best stepper, and they come up with routines. People work out at gyms and have to take flexibility classes.”

Current Clayton State student and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity member, Imad “Cozy” Hamidullah, who is preparing to compete in his first step show during the Clayton State Homecoming, said, “You're talking about practice from 8:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. all the way till 2:00 a.m. It's so physically demanding that you have to change your diet, schedule, and lifestyle for at least two months. Because when you're practicing, you have to get it perfect. And even just with the stepping stuff aside, you have to plan out the cinematics of the show, like the skits, the animation. Your show presence and your charisma on the stage also get you points with the audience.”  

The Greek Step Show takes place on Thursday, February 26, at 7:00 p.m., at the Athletics Center on campus during this Homecoming Week.