The Art of Step
Stepping is a form of percussive dance in which a participant’s entire body is used as an instrument to create difficult rhythms and sounds through footsteps, spoken word and hand claps.
As Nicole Telfer clapped her hands and stomped her feet in a creative rhythm, she shouted out “Dark Storm, STEP,” loudly so that her whole team can know that it is time to start the routine.
Telfer is a senior double majoring in Human Development and Family Studies and Psychology. She is also the Co-Captain for Penn State’s new step team, “Dark Storm.” Dark Storm was created last semester, when two girls named Torre and Rose decided to perform a step at an event called Black Women Rock.
Many people wondered why there wasn’t a step team on campus and were inspired to create one to bring lively step back onto this campus.
Nicole Telfer is one of those founders who saw the need for stepping at Penn State and helped along the way of the process. Dark Storm has around 25 members and is making a name for themselves slowly. They have performed at events such as the People of Color Pep Rally.
Telfer has been stepping since her freshman year at Penn State Schuylkill and she fell in love with it all over again. She said that believes that stepping is an art. She says that no one really knows or cares much about it outside of the Black community, which makes it unique for her.
