Kelly Spencer steps on stage with her sorority sisters and begins to stomp and clap in rhythmic succession to a funky beat.

She waits for the signal from her sorority sister before beginning the quick clapping motions through her legs, on her chest and down to the floor.

Paddles embroidered in blue and gold are handed to the women as they make music by simultaneously pounding the floor with the paddles and their feet.

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This is a step show.

The pounding of feet, clapping hands and colors of blue and gold, white and blue and brown and gold took the stage of the Student Center ballrooms to show unity among minority greek organizations Saturday at the Pan-Hellenic Council’s annual smoker/rush and step show.

More than 250 people packed the ballrooms for the show.

The Pan-Hellenic Council is the umbrella organization for minority organizations. Its purpose is to bring unity among the nine organizations it encompasses.

Spencer, a senior in biological sciences from East St. Louis, said stepping is part of the history of minority greek life.

In Africa, they expressed themselves through dance beats and moves, she said. Stepping and the music and colors of our organizations goes along (with the show).

Anthony Smith, a graduate student in rehabilitation counseling from Chicago, said the tradition of stepping comes from tribal dances in Africa.

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It is a symbol of unity and the rites of passage, he said. To become a warrior, there were tribal dances. Everything we do has a history behind it.

Daniel Ballard, vice president of the Pan-Hellenic Council, said the step show exhibits unity among the greeks and gives people a chance to see what greek life is about.

The general student body finds it difficult to just walk up to greeks and see what they are about, he said. This lets them know.

Niki Nathan, a senior in special education from Mounds, said the step show is a way to uplift and bond in the form of dance.

Bonding is important to keep a family, a sisterhood, a brotherhood, intact, she said. And you give that good vibe to other organizations showing them that love is beyond words.

For Gustavo Cotto Rodriguez, a junior in history education from St. Louis and a first-time participant in the show, it was a good way to gain support from other fraternities and sororities.

It’s good for us to come together and support each other and for the public to find out more about us, he said.