Block out time for VCU’s Step Show

Free food, fun and games.

Those things are all part of Fall Block Week, which begins Monday and leads up to the Fall Step Show, an extravaganza of music and dancing that has become a VCU tradition.

The block week activities are designed to build enthusiasm for the show Saturday, Sept. 23, performed by members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The council is made up of the nine African-American Greek organizations at VCU.

This year’s theme for Block Week is “Too Hot for TV.”

“Each day corresponds to a certain television channel, with activities to match,” said Anita Mingo, who chairs the Fall Block Planning Committee.

TV Guide is the channel for Monday. An informational forum on the responsibilities of being in a fraternity or sorority will be held in the Commonwealth Ballroom from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“It’s not just about partying,” said Faith Wilkerson, an advisor to the committee.

Tuesday is Discovery Channel day. Students from Step Afrika will perform in the Commonwealth Ballroom in the University Student Commons from noon until 1 p.m., as well as offer information about the origins of stepping.

Wednesday is all about competition, with ESPN as the theme channel. From noon to 1 p.m., members of the Greek community will compete in a stroll competition at Park Plaza near the Hibbs Building. Wilkerson said strolling is like line dancing but participants perform the same prepared choreography to a song.

On Wednesday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., there will be free games and food at the Break Point Game Room in the basement of the Commons.

Thursday’s TV theme is the Food Network. Famous Dave’s barbecue will cater a cookout in the Commons Plaza from noon to 3 p.m. That evening, students can “Sing for Wings” at Buffalo Wild Wings at 1501 E. Cary St. in Shockoe Bottom. Students can show off their vocal talents at karaoke night and, with a valid student ID, get wings for 35 cents.

On Friday, Sept. 22, the films “Animal House” and “School Daze” will be shown for free in the Commons Theater starting at 7 p.m. The films are being shown in conjunction with Uncommon Cinemas, the film branch of the Activities Programming Board.

Then comes the main event – the culmination of the week’s activities: the step show starts at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. It will continue the TV theme.

“All the groups that are stepping will emulate a television show through the use of costume, set design and video,” Wilkerson said. For instance, some will do “Charlie’s Angels” and others “Law & Order.”

This is the 16th year for the Fall Step Show at VCU. Wilkerson expects nearly 3,000 people to attend. The show will include step teams from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Virginia Union University.

“Our step show is the largest in the Richmond metropolitan area – and as of two years ago, the largest in the state,” Mingo said.

“We have a lot of good people this year. I really believe they’ll pull out all the stops.”

Tickets for the show are $10 for VCU students, $15 for other college students and $20 for the general public. Children get in free.

Following the step show, there will be an after party at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

“It’s just an atmosphere for college students to socialize and celebrate the show and the week,” Mingo said.