CEDAR HILL, Texas — A group of students in Cedar Hill are creating a community in their school district and they’re using the art of step dancing to do it.
What started as a small after-school program for a dozen elementary boys in 2022 has more than tripled over the last year.
The group led by Cedar Hill Independent School District’s Behavior Specialist William R. Holmes includes girls and boys from elementary to high school.
With percussive stomps and claps accompanied by high-energy moves, the students turn their bodies into instruments.
“I feel like it’s given me more discipline,” said senior step student Armihja Abubakar. “Step is [a] very tedious and precise sport, because I have to make sure everything is on point. You have to make sure you’re doing exactly what you need to do, to be in sync with everyone else.”
Abubakar makes stepping look easy, but she’s new to this style of dance and so are most of these kids that’s show up to the after-school practices.
“I feel like it’s a natural thing for me,” she said. “Because I like to move, dance, stomp, shake. Being able to do it with other people it’s like a sisterhood, I like making new friends. I love that I get to express myself in a way. It’s like my escape from everything else. That’s what draws me to do this.”
Stepping has been described as “one of the most exciting dance forms created in the 21st century,” according to Holmes.
“This is more than just an after-school activity. I’m creating a community,” he said.
As a stepper himself who had award-winning student step teams prior to CHISD, he knew what it takes to coach a group of eager beginners.
“I think I’m passionate about it because I get to see kids do something they love,” said Holmes. “When I see a kid come from the first day of trying to learn step, then three weeks down the road they’re winning competitions and I see the excitement on their faces. I believe in them and if they believe in themselves, anything can be accomplished, and I love to see that.”
Coach Holmes has been coaching step for 26 years and is happy to see this group in Cedar Hill grow with the help of his volunteer assistant Quintavious Griffin, or as the students call him “Coach Q,” who’s coached step for 11 years.
Griffin said he’s seen the sport spread across North Texas since he graduated high school more than a decade ago.
“Back then in Dallas you probably had a couple of schools that had as step team,” said Griffin. “Now seeing teams like at almost every high school and every district, that’s letting us know that it’s actually growing, it’s growing pretty fast.”
The coaches hope more kids will show an interest and with devoted dancers like Abubakar, they plan to keep winning competitions and making a name for their budding program.
“It is cool seeing all of the younger girls get passionate about it,” said Abubakar. “Watching them gives us older dancers motivation to do better and make sure that we’re doing what we’re supposed to do, because I know they’re looking at us.”
Coach Holmes and the students have named themselves, “The hard stepping brothers and sisters of Boyz N The Hill & Hill Side Divaz.”
The group is hosting an inaugural event titled the “Hillside Step Explosion.”
The event held Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at the district’s performing arts center will support local step teams from around DFW as they showcase their skills on stage for scholarship prizes.
Presale tickets are being sold for $10 and $15 at the door, children 3 years old and under get in free.
For more information on the event, contact Coach Holmes at 214-837-5347.
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