National City Sports Lounge on Sweetwater Road hosts dance lessons, Chicago steppin’, on a regular basis.
Chicago-style stepping (steppin’) is a dance that continues to evolve but stays within the context of swing dance.
The phrase, Chicago-style stepping, makes references to other styles of dance as well. Sam Chatman was the first to coin the phrase in 1973. The characteristics are like the New York hustle.
A Chicago-native now living in Skyline attends the classes with her mother.
“My mother and I are from Chicago. My mother was talking about the classes, I tried it out,” said Kendria McCrary, who says they have been attending for months.
“I’ve been doing this for two years now,” said one of the dance instructors, Dotty Forman.
“I went to a class and fell in love with it.”
The class locations have alternated, depending on renovations on a facility, or availability, from the National City Sports Lounge to locations in Mira Mesa, even a State Farm office.
The dance classes in National City started in October 2015.
Tonya Danee Tolver, who goes by Tonya Danee, was the force behind the National City Chicago-steppin’ dance classes as well as the third annual Summer Set put on by SDC Steppers, which was held June 6-9 at the Hilton Mission Valley, an event completely focused on Chicago-steppin.’
The Chicago-steppin’ three-day conference featured events like Summerset Scorcher that included a suggested theme with attire of white and gold.
Workshops included ladies only, fit w/Feo, and ladies and gents – change the game with the lane.
“Choc James is another instructor,” said Forman. “It’s for all ages.” The playlist includes music from Prince, rhythm and blues and more.
According to Danee, the classes are for all ages, excluding locations in a 21-and-up establishment.
To find out more about participating in a Chicago-steppin’ class visit their Facebook page: SDCC steppers.
