KANSAS CITY, Mo. The girls of The S.T.E.P. Movement are leading the next generation of stepping.

“We always say, if you can stomp once and clap twice, we can teach you how to step for the rest of your life,” captain Rajah Morris said. 

The dance style has been documented as early as the 15th century with origins in west Africa. 

As centuries passed, step went through several evolutions, first seen in African folk dances, then as a way for slaves to communicate.

When step was introduced to America in the late 19th century, it became popular at HBCU’s and fraternities and sororities in the Divine Nine.

“It brings kind of all walks together, but we also get to tell the history of it. We get to tell the cultural significance of it, and so students get to see representation within their self, within their culture,” Chief Operating Officer Alicia McDougal said. “It is used in so many cultures, not only domestically, but internationally. For us, if they see it, they can do it.”

That history and empowerment is why head coach Jacquinta Nelson started the S.T.E.P. Movement in 2018.

It stands for supporting them express their passions and does exactly that for young African American girls across Kansas City.

14-year-old Rajah Morris joined the team less than a year ago as a beginner and has already advanced to team captain and helps coach other teams across the state.

“It was like an outlet for me. Step was a way for me to be able to get out and show my true self. Like not only through just stepping, but like the education field, the community service, the bonding,” Morris said. “Step has helped me in many ways I didn’t think I could help myself.”

They’re the only step team in Missouri not affiliated with a school but have still earned 11 awards and placed top three in the 2021 World of Step International Competition.

Dancer Eva McDougal says while she’s proud of the accolades the team has received, the sisterhood she’s created means more to her than anything.

“Sometimes, we’ll just hang out like after practice, or before practice. And then after, we just chill and play around and it’s just fun,” McDougal said.

Nelson says bonding outside of the studio is just as important as the work they do for competitions.

She says it gives them the type of mentorship that young African American girls need growing up. 

“We had a captain who was our captain since the 7^thgrade, and she recently graduated this last year and she’s a freshman at Howard University. Now being a freshman at Howard University, she automatically joined their step team and they’re looking to train her to be a captain,” CEO and Founder Jacquinta Nelson said.

With a bright future, filled with endless possibilities ahead, the girls of the S.T.E.P. Movement plan to keep stepping to the beat of their own drum. 

“Don’t be afraid to be you. Don’t be afraid to show who you really are, just go for it. Just go for it,” Morris said.

The team has been invited to Step Afrika’s week-long summer camp in Washington, D.C.

In addition to professional training, they’d also tour Howard University and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American Art. But they need financial help to get there.