This year’s Homecoming festivities see the 23rd Annual Southeastern Stomp Fest take place on Friday, Nov. 3, from 7-10 p.m. in the Student Union Auditorium.
The Southeastern Stomp Fest is a high-energy step competition hosted by Multicultural Student Life in collaboration with the Black Cultural Programming Committee. Both work alongside the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life to secure teams and handle logistics for the event.
This year’s Southeastern Stomp Fest is open to UT students, alumni and the Knoxville community at large free of cost, but tickets must be downloaded through Eventbrite prior to the competition.
Director of Multicultural Student Life Anthony Prewitt described stepping as a cultural experience for fashion, music and dance. According to Prewitt, stepping is an art form that is deeply rooted in African traditional steps and rhythmic movement and prominently unique to historically African American fraternities and sororities.
Essentially, step dancers tell a story by using their bodies as instruments. Common practices include stomping, chanting and clapping.
“It’s not only entertainment, but it’s storytelling at its best,” Prewitt said. “We see the craftiness and creativity of some of our students put on display at such an optimal level.”
Participants in the Southeastern Stomp Fest come from UT’s National Pan-Hellenic Council.
Founded in 1930, NPHC is composed of nine historically black sororities and fraternities, seven of which are active at UT. NPHC was granted charter at UT in 2007, although chapters have been on campus since 1970. The NPHC organizations represented on campus include Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, Sigma Gamma Rho, Omega Psi Phi and Zeta Phi Beta.
The Southeastern Stomp Fest originated in 2000 with the intention of allowing NPHC sororities and fraternities to express organizational pride. Preference is given to UT affiliate chapters, but the Southeastern Stomp Fest sees step performers come from all over the southeastern United States to highlight Black Greek-lettered organizations.
Performers compete for bragging rights and other prizes, and although the Southeastern Stomp Fest prominently highlights NPHC organizations, there are occasional special performances by Strange Fruit Dance Company and other non-Greek entities.
Prewitt says the Stomp Fest has continued to serve as a celebration of Black Greek life and culture throughout its 23-year run.
“I’m sure when Stomp Fest started, there probably were very few events that focused on the Black fraternal experience at UT,” Prewitt said. “I think what this event allowed for was a platform to highlight these organizations which were pivotal to the experiences of so many students here at the institution. As a hallmark event during homecoming, Stomp Fest was a bridge for generations, a celebration of pride and amplification of an underappreciated and often appropriated artform.”
Sophie Lyons, a sophomore sociology major, has been involved with BCPC and its editorial board for two years and is currently the human resources chair.
Lyons says BCPC puts on events and programming that they find relevant to Black and African American communities on campus. She has felt the excitement of everyone involved with the Stomp Fest during the meetings she has attended.
“Our NPHC students who participate in the show, our team who plans it, our coordinators in the office, our panel of judges, and most importantly those who return to watch every year,” Lyons said.
Lyons says Homecoming is a time to show school spirit and school pride, and her involvement in BCPC is directly contributing to this.
“All UT students, faculty and staff do so much throughout the year and I believe it’s really a time to celebrate ourselves and celebrate our team,” Lyons said. “Everyone, from the people that empty our trash, work in our pods, teach our classes, keep our buildings running, work in our offices, all the way up to us, the students, has a reason to celebrate and be proud of their contribution to this university.”
As a staple Homecoming event, the Southeastern Stomp Fest generates school pride for all UT students, but it sets itself apart from many other traditions in that it serves as a celebration of those involved in historically Black Greek life. Thanks to the combined efforts of MSL, BCPC and OSFL, the Southeastern Stomp Fest has continued for over two decades, with hopes of continuing many more.
