NPHC step show gets “Back to the Basics”

Murray State graduate student Dominique Willis performs alongside her sisters of the Nu Rho chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority at the WKU step show. 

Quiche Matchen

The National Pan-Hellenic Council step show this year was filled with laughter, tears and cheers.

The show started at 7 p.m. in Diddle Arena on Saturday. The show was cancelled last year due to “logistical” issues. The performers have been practicing and planning since the summer.

President Gary Ransdell welcomed the audience to the step show and thanked everyone for coming out.

“This is a WKU homecoming tradition,” Ransdell said.

Comedian Billy Sorrells, known for his appearances on the YouTube series “Sh-t Black Girls Say,” was the host of the step show.

Sorrells told jokes, interacted with the crowd and got older NPHC organization members to dance and participate in the fun.

While the step show had a lot of funny moments, it was also at times serious. At one point, a member from each organization went onto the stage with a candle in hand.

There was a moment of silence in honor of a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority who was killed in a car accident.

Sorrells later lightened the mood by reading off tweets from his Twitter from people in the audience wanting shout outs and talking about him.

The steppers of the night were from WKU and some were from other campuses.

Each NPHC organization had different scenes for their performance. The scenes ranged from a time machine to witches and a cauldron.

The theme of the step show was “Back to the Basics: Tradition at its Best” and each organization paid tribute to the history of their organization.

Louisville native Keisha Smith, member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority, said she thought they did very well.

“They incorporated historical moments very well and went back to the basics of the organizations,” Smith said.

She said she appreciates WKU for recognizing all organizations and supporting NPHC.

Louisville senior Kelly Mandela, vice president of NPHC, said she’s proud of everyone that helped and came out.

“You can expect a bigger and better show every year,” Mandela said.