Strolling dancing divas
by Hannah Riddle, posted May 5, 2009
“We love to stroll. It is a great opportunity to reinforce sisterhood and tradition. Nationally, we participate in several competitions,” said Aukua Pokuuah, president of Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority. MU’s first annual All Greek Stroll off was held before spring break.
According to the Greekster.tv Web site:
"... strolling, sometimes also referred to as ‘party walk’ is a synchronized dance that has grown tremendously among the National Pan-Hellenic Council, National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, and other multicultural Greek lettered organizations.
Each stroll is done to a song, or compilation of remixed songs, and began initially in the early 1920s, when African American collegiate organizations incorporated it into the Greek system. Teams throughout the history of strolling traditionally use hip hop, reggae, R&B, and sometimes rock beats, with occasional raggaeton, meringue, and salsa. It has become a channel of style and self expression among some fraternities and sororities and provides the brothers and sisters with an outlet to represent their organization’s values, character, and personality."
The MU Pan-Hellenic chapters that participated in the stroll off were the women of Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Phi, Chi Omega, and Sigma Simga Simga. The four chapters were judged on the uniformity of the dance and the amount of spirit each chapter had.
When Alpha Phi and Sigma Sigma Sigma tied after the first round, it then was up to the audience to decide the winner in a second-round dance off.
“I was so excited to see how many people came out,” Pakuuah said. Even though only a few women from each chapter participated in the stroll, many of their sorority sisters came out to support them.
When the second performances were completed, the crowd cheered for the best stroll off. The cheering contest had to be conducted more then once for the women of Sigma Lambda Gamma to call who had won. In the end, the women of Alpha Phi won the stroll off and the prizes that went along with that.
“Alpha Phi was our winner. They received a $100 Visa Gift card, and champion t-shirts,” Pakuuah said.
“We were extremely excited. We had a whole bleacher full of fans, which made the event that more exciting. We felt so proud and pleased with our victory,” said Emily Schneider, an Alphi Phi stroller. “It was by far one of the best experiences during my freshman year! We can’t wait to participate next year.”
