THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 3, 1995 TAG: 9503030551
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICKEY WRIGHT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
YOU CAN'T WORRY about a little pain when you're headed for the Apollo Theater in New York City.
Half Step, a Virginia Beach dance troupe drawn largely from the halls of Kempsville and Princess Anne high schools, was rehearsing in a Virginia Beach cul-de-sac on a recent Saturday afternoon. Monica Sanders, their manager, looked on proudly as the nine-member group executed spins in perfect unison while chanting verses from ``Kitty Kitty'' by the 69 Boyz.
``Ouch! Ouch!'' yelped one teen as her knees hit the asphalt.
``They usually have kneepads,'' said Sanders, whose townhouse that day was rehearsal central.
For their performance, the group has drawn on hip-hop videos and step-team drills that members like Kempsville High junior Chunichi Knott know well. The style is something between Janet Jackson and a step show.
With a classic nothing's-gonna-stop-us-now attitude and plenty of ambition, the year-old troupe has been practice dancing for months. Wednesday, they'll pack a rented van and head for a taping of TV's ``Showtime at the Apollo'' talent competition, in which they might win $500 but where they are assured of getting lots of exposure. The program probably won't air locally until April.
Since hearing from ``Showtime'' producers in December, the nine-member outfit has put its work ethic to the test - not only with increased practice schedules but also with fund-raising. One father donated use of the van, and help came from local hip-hop record producer Teddy Riley, radio station WNVZ (Z-104) and Yellow Cab.
Members of Half Step has raised most of the money themselves, though, hosting parties and selling raffle tickets and candy to bring in the required $1,400. Just days before their departure, they're still carrying boxes of Blow Pops and Nestle Crunch bars to sell.
It was Sanders who made the move to get High Step on TV, after a friend in New York commented on the dancing ability of her three daughters, Tracy, 7; Ladonna, 15; and Lechele, 17.
``I got on a plane and took two (video) tapes and stood in a line,'' recalled Sanders. ``There were about 400 people in the line, and I thought, `What am I doing here?' But it paid off.''
Lechele admitted having some jitters as the big day neared. ``It's startin' to kick in now,'' she said. ``At first, it was just a lot of hard work, but now that it's right around the corner, we're getting real bad butterflies. We're real nervous.''
Tracy was a regular at summertime practices, but schoolwork has often kept her out of the lineup since then. She'll still be one of the nine Half Steppers who'll hit the boards on ``Showtime.''
They were well into the Saturday practice when Chunichi worried aloud about teammate Toya Duncan's long nails, which had just received a coat of red polish.
``Toya, they should be dry by now,'' Chunichi said.
The group - except for the sole male, Robert Cox, 18, who was absent that day - stopped to pose for a photographer. Then they get back down to real business as Toya's nails finally dried.
Tracy joined in this time, hoping she can do a dance she did all summer but hasn't done for a while. Watching her elders' for cues, she seemed nervous yet ebullient as she strutted within the formation.
``I'm surprised she remembers this much,'' Monica Sanders said. Except for one or two rough spots, Tracy seemed to have most of her moves down. As the boom box music faded, she gleefully ran to her mom for a hug.
``You did good! You did good, Miss Tracy!'' her mother said.
Monica Sanders fell naturally into her role as manager after starting out as ``just a supportive parent.'' After witnessing the group's efforts to land spots in local talent shows, she agreed to be become Half Step's guide.
``When I was growin' up, I had a lot of support. I was a singer and a dancer and my mother was supportive. I had the help, so I want to just pass it on. And my daughters and I - we sing and dance from the time we get up.''
She laughed, then thought of the challenge her Virginia Beach crew will face in the big city and said, ``When I was in New York, I saw so much talent, I said, `Oh my God.' ''
But Half Step's optimism isn't about to fade now.
``We're just praying,'' said Monica Sanders. ILLUSTRATION: GARY C. KNAPP COLOR PHOTOS
Practicing their routines on a Virginia Beach street are members of
Half Step, from left, Chunichi Knott, Ladonna Sanders, Lechele
Sanders and Toya Duncan.
Watching others practice is Tracy Sanders, 7, who'll be joining in
at the Apollo.
Graphic
THE DANCERS Half Step includes:
Kempsville High juniors Robert Cox, 18; Toya Duncan, 17; Chunichi
Knott, 17; Candice Newby, 16; and Lechele Sanders, 17
Kempsville High sophomore Chrissy Smith, 15
Princess Anne High sophomore Lachele Edmonds, 15
Kempsville High freshman Ladonna Sanders, 15
Arrowhead Elementary first-grader Tracy Sanders.
by CNB