Gold Rush Step Competition Honors African Heritage, April 17

Gold Rush 2004, one of the biggest step competitions and shows in upstate New York, comes to Rochester Institute of Technology at 2 p.m. on April 17. Sponsored by RIT’s Alpha Phi Alpha, Mu Sigma chapter, and Lambda Upsilon Lambda, Omega chapter, fraternities and the Rochester Step Off organization, the event will be held in Clark Gymnasium.

Now in its second year, Alpha Phi Alpha and Lambda Upsilon Lambda started Gold Rush in the spring of 2002 to increase the awareness of minority Greek culture in Rochester. This event brings historically black and Latino fraternities and sororities together through stepping. Stepping—a rhythmic, synchronized movement based in African-music—traces its roots back hundreds of years in culture when Africans used stepping as form of communication and musical expression. These forms of expression and communication have become incorporated in the culture of minority Greeks.

Several Rochester-area high school step teams will participate in the show including Wilson High School male and female step teams, Gates-Chili female step team and Edison Tech male step team. The high school teams are taught by minority Greek organizations.

African American and Latino Greek step teams from across upstate New York will compete in the event, with prizes going to the top male and female step teams. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for the public. For more information, call Richard Morrison, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity president, at 424-7977 or e-mail musigma1977@yahoo.com.