Inspired from the entertainment segment of Georgia State's Homecoming 2007, the Quiet Storm Steppers are stirring up a lot of noise on campus this year. One of the newest student organizations to emerge at Georgia State, the all-female step team is definitely stepping their game up this year.
Founded in the fall of 2007, by President, Osaguna Asemota, and co-founded by Vice President, Joyce Kazadi, the new step team is already showing much promise as many talented Georgia State students are working extremely hard to represent the new elite group of steppers.
Osa also founded her high school step team, the "Lady Emeralds," at Collins Hill High School in Gwinnett County. Following up its success, Osa decided to bring a step team to Georgia State as well. The team was created to perform only at homecoming shows.
"She had a good idea but it could be something great," said Joyce, who pushed Osa to charter the organization. Osa's passion for mentoring young women transitioning from high school life to college life, a sentiment echoed by her co-founders and other members of the group, ultimately contributed to her decision to go through with creating the organization.
For now the organization is only open to freshmen living on Georgia State's campus and though the group step team is all female, male freshmen living on campus are also allowed to join. While it is restricted to incoming freshmen, the organization is considering allowing first-year transfer students as well.
The organization consists of sixteen mentors and sixteen new members team this year. Each member will be paired with a mentor specially hand-picked for her. Former steppers can become mentors to the incoming step team members as well.
The mentors, who are an integral part of the organization, are very involved in campus life. The organization's historian and current mentor, Lucy Edosomwan, a sophomore Psychology major, is also an inceptor. Edosomwan claims her goal is to instill confidence, self-efficacy, and teamwork within the girls.
While guiding the freshmen, the mentors also accompany the young women on field trips and host speaker-led forums on important topics. Upcoming topics for this year include "The Do's and Dont's of Going to the Club", "How to Deal with Roommates," and other valuable topics ranging from sexual health and awareness to professionalism and campus involvement.
Making the team, however, is not easy. The application process is rigorous, consisting of both an application process with an essay and a tryout. Some of the essay questions include, "Why are you interested in the Quiet Storm Steppers and what will you bring to the team?" and "Why is team bonding important and how will the team benefit from bonding?"
Included on the application are special essay questions for those seeking leadership roles such as Team Captain and Co-Captain of the step team.
"You don't have to have experience to be a natural-born leader" Osa said. "But, it probably helps that a lot of those trying out for team captain and co-captain were captains of their high school step teams."
After the applications are reviewed, a select few are invited to tryouts, which were held this year in the Courtyard at the University Commons from September 15th to the 17th.
On the first day of tryouts, a step routine was taught to the girls by the step master, Danya Thomas, and a step coach. The second day was an optional practice day and the third day was when the actual tryout process began in front of five judges who will eventually chose only sixteen girls to fill the available spots.
In terms of performance, Osa was looking for exaggerated, but clean and precise movements and a projected, crisp, clear voice. In addition to these qualities, Osa was also searching for ladies who are outgoing and have a general interest in stepping and are determined to learn.
With a tough application and tryout process, the Quiet Storm Steppers, are sure to blossom into a successful and talented step team that will not only entertain Georgia State students in years to come, but will develop students into self-confident young adults.
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