In its 15th year, VCU’s Fall Block Step Show has risen to a new level of performance with louder steps and a more organized show.
Despite not having an afterparty, the show was a crowd pleaser. Senior Joe Ellis, a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., said he wasn’t disappointed about the university not having an afterparty.
“I don’t go to parties,” he said. “I’ll be satisfied with going home and getting some past-due rest.”
More than 3,000 students and guests attended the show Saturday night, but that was still less than last year’s turnout of almost 5,000.
Last year’s show attracted a full house and many of the attendees stayed for the afterparty sponsored by the university. The party, however, ended before it could start because of fights partly caused by the Stuart C. Siegel Center being past full capacity.
Some students said they expected a fight to break out this year as well.
Tenika Jarvis, a senior psychology major, said she wasn’t disappointed about not having an official party because a fight was likely to break out after the step show.
“It’s a shame that we claim to be adults, but we can’t come out and have a good time,” she said
Kelli Lemon, assistant director for programs for the University Student Commons, said it was scary not being able to see the Siegel Center floor last year. It was also difficult to clear out 5,000 people from the building to prepare for the afterparty, she said.
“Anything we do, we’ll have to limit (an afterparty) to 2,000 people,” Lemon said, referring to future parties.
A lot of changes took place this year, including added security. Lemon pointed out she hasn’t been notified of any fights or police reports stemming from the step show. Area clubs and venues, such as Virginia Union University, hosted afterparties.
This year’s theme, Total Greek Live, was a spin-off of MTV’s music video countdown, “Total Request Live.” Each sorority and fraternity creatively incorporated a music video into its step performance.
Brandes Ash, chair and CEO of the Fall Block Planning Committee, opened the show with the beautifully sung “Lift Every Voice,” the national anthem for millions of black Americans.
Urban Eyes, a coed dance team composed of college students and two children, lit up the stage with phenomenal dance moves to songs, which ranged from Beyonc