Wayne State National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. and students gave guest keynote speaker Rick Daniels a warm Warrior welcome as he discussed the origin for his program “Tap Dancing Without Shoes.”

The 26 year old, who has completed his master’s degree in education and professional development, is also the Greek leadership advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Daniels a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and has been a Greek advisor since 2009.

Daniels teaches fraternities and sororities, as well as non-Greek members, to realize that the art form of stepping is meant to bring all people together rather than separate fraternity and sorority organizations.

Stepping — a combination of synchronized percussive movement, singing, speaking, chanting and drama — is a cultural phenomenon dating back centuries; it is often performed by black Greek letter organizations across university campuses. Today, it is a more diverse and rapidly growing modern art form infused with popular culture, performed not only by Greek organizations but also church and middle school teams.

In 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and in 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. were among the first black Greek collegiate organizations founded on white college campuses. Each organization was founded upon service and scholarship so that African Americans could go to college and become educated. Black Greek collegiate fraternities and sororities were integrated with whites in the 1940s.

Before integration, stepping was seen performed by blacks only. Through integration of other races, stepping is now an art form performed by diverse people and organizations.

Today’s culture is introduced to stepping through movies such as the 1988 Spike Lee film “School Daze” and the 2007 film “Stomp The Yard,” which grossed more than $25 million its first weekend at the box office.

When he was a junior in college, Daniels wanted to put together a step show. This would be the first show that the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater had seen in more than 10 years. He and his fraternity and other NPHC members decided to invite other Greek organizations outside the NPHC to compete in the show, as well.

Through research, Daniels realized that many African Americans don’t know much of the background behind stepping themselves. He changed the mission of his program and added an element of entertainment to foster education, making it more than just a history lesson about stepping.

While it is unclear which black Greek fraternity first started performing stepping, “Omega Psi Phi Fraternity first introduced the militant stepping form,” said Danny Preston, a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Daniels had everyone in the audience clap and stomp in their seats, participating in the art form he called “tap dancing without shoes.” He wants all people to continue to advocate the history of stepping while fostering respect and appreciate for the art.

“As a Greek advisor and for someone who is a member of a Greek organization, it is a daily task and a lifetime journey to portray that message,” he said.

“We can’t pigeonhole this for just African Americans,” Daniels said. “This is something that has the power to bring all people together in a way no one has ever done before. It’s a time to not only appreciate stepping as art form but understand its history too.”