Cornell University's step team 'Phenomenon' heading to 2023 National Step Championships
ITHACA, N.Y. (WENY) -- Cornell University's step team "Phenomenon" is heading to Harlem's world-famous Apollo Theater as one of 12 step dance teams that will compete at the 2023 National Step Championships this weekend.
Producing the event collectively under the name "UpStaged Entertainment Group," the National Collegiate Performing Arts (NCPA) and the National High School Performing Arts (NHSPA) help bring cohesiveness to the performing arts communities while celebrating the best college and high school step teams in the country.
“Winning a 2023 Step National Championship, and forever being NCPA and NHSPA Step All-Americans, will be a great accomplishment for any team, as it showcases their skills, creativity, and teamwork on a national stage,” said Victoria Duruh, UpStaged Entertainment Group’s Chief Talent Officer, in a press release. “The competition will be an empowering experience for all teams involved, regardless of the outcome.”
For Cornell University's step team "Phenomenon," participating in the national competition was a long time coming.
"'Phenomenon' step team ha[s] never performed at a step dance competition before, so we decided to take this opportunity and just dive into it and get this great experience," said Team Captain Aicha Diaby. "It entailed a lot of practice and just trying to make everyone's schedule work together to attend this competition."
"Phenomenon's" road to nationals began last fall, where they submitted a video of a self-choreographed routine that was then judged based on precision, synchronization, creativity and overall performance. Since then, the preparation process has been a collaborative effort.
"We've had members in the past choreography [the routines]," said Diaby. "So, we've been using [choreography] from the past and we have upcoming performances where we've been working together to create new [choreography]."
More than 150 steppers will compete between the 12 teams at the competition. Joining Cornell University in the top eight NCPA teams competing for $10,000 are Delaware State University, Howard University, Lincoln College, Mercy College, Syracuse University and men’s and women’s teams from Tufts University. The Tufts men’s team "BlackOut" is the reigning champion.
The NHSPA championships are co-produced by World of Step (WOS), where the nation’s best high schools will compete for $3,000. The four high school semifinalist teams are Brentwood High School from Long Island, Monsignor Scanlan High School from the Bronx, New Rochelle High School and Nottingham High School.
“These talented high school steppers have an unbelievable opportunity to compete for a National Championship at the Nation’s most storied historically black theater in the most world-renowned black cultural Mecca, Harlem,” said WOS Founder and CEO Jessica “Remo” Saul in a press release. “This is the Superbowl of Step, being played out in the Madison Square Garden of Performing Arts Venues.”
A portion of both cash prizes will additionally be donated to a Harlem-based charity.
The 2023 National Step Championships will be held on Saturday, April 22 at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the event beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.50 and are available at either Ticketmaster.com or the Apollo Theater's Box Office.
"We would love for Cornell alumni, [as well as] whoever's in New York City or [has] the time to travel, to come out and support [us]," said Diaby. "[The competition] is open to anyone and everyone."
Those that wish to support "Phenomenon" on their journey to nationals, but are unable to attend the actual competition on Saturday, can donate to the team's GoFundMe page.