DALLAS — Two days a week, a group of a dozen elementary-age boys meet in their school’s gymnasium to work on their steps. With percussive stomps and claps accompanied by high-energy moves, the boys turn their bodies into instruments.
Their fast footsteps, claps and chants create unique rhythms that make their coach proud.
Stepping has been described as “one of the most exciting dance forms created in the 21st century,” according to the boys' step coach, William R. Holmes.
“This is more than just an after-school activity. I’m creating a community,” said Holmes.
The community he has fostered is called THEE On Pointe Steppers, a competitive step group of students from High Pointe Elementary in Cedar Hill.
When Holmes was hired by Cedar Hill Independent School District (CHISD) in 2019 as a social emotional learning (SEL) specialist, he knew he wanted to bring his love for stepping into the district.
“I’m very passionate about stepping and making sure these kids have an outlet,” said Holmes.
As a stepper himself who had award-winning student step teams prior to CHISD, he knew what it would take to coach a group of eager beginners.
“The one thing I think I want them to take [away] is that they can make all their dreams come true,” said Holmes. “You may not be good at something at first, but don’t let nobody tell you you can’t do it, and just grow. You can only move up. You can’t go down if you believe in yourself.”
Holmes fell in love with the art form of stepping while studying therapeutic recreation and special education at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. Growing up, he never excelled at sports, even though he was athletic and had good rhythm, so he decided to try his luck stepping as a member of the university’s Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.
Holmes realized it was something he was good at after a lot of practice. He almost gave up when the choreography would get difficult, but his diligence paid off. He eventually became a step captain of his fraternity’s step team and has been stepping ever since.
“Stepping with my frat brothers are some of the best memories I made while in college,” he said.
More than two decades later, he now shares his talent and passion to inspire a new generation of steppers.
“The way I handle them in step, I tear them down, I drill, drill, drill,” said Holmes. “And then I let up all of a sudden and let them know it wasn’t all in vain. I tell them, ‘You the best, you the brightest, you can do it. I believe in you.’ They really need that kind of encouragement.”
It’s this tough-love teaching technique Holmes believes that made his group of dedicated beginners an award-winning team. Last year the boys placed first in the elementary division of the Theta Nu Sigma Step Program’s Annual Step Show titled "Who Runs the Yard."
“It was our very first step show,” said Holmes with a big smile on his face. “Taking home an award at our first competition just shows how much potential these boys have.”
Holmes’ confidence has been contagious for his students. When asked if they’ll win again, his students believe they have what it takes to keep taking home trophies.
“He’s hard on us because he knows that we’re better than that,” said fourth-grade student Robert Powell. “He’s seen us do better and believes in us. He pushes us because he loves us. He’s really a great coach.”
All the stress and sweat that comes with hours of practice creates something special, according to fifth-grade student Auri Abubakar.
“You don’t treat them like friends,” said Abubakar referencing his teammates “You treat them like they’re your brothers, and then you love them and you teach them new things and you learn things from each other.”
Abubakar is one of the team's captains and would like to continue stepping after he leaves High Pointe, but his team is currently the only one in the district.
Holmes wants to make sure students like Abubakar and Powell who have fallen in love with step have the opportunity to keep stepping after they graduate from THEE On Pointe Steppers. His dream is for CHISD to create six district step teams with both a boys and girls team representing elementary, middle and high school students. He’s shared his ideas with district leaders about having a high school step team recognized as an elective course with hopes of competing the same way band and cheerleading students do.
“I don’t know how I would be able to coach them all,” said Holmes. “But where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Until then, he plans to keep helping his small team of boys become brothers.
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