May 10, 2009

Charlotte, NC – Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department sponsors the "Meck Steppers Countywide Annual Step into Spring Championships" on Sunday, May 31, 2009, 2pm-7pm in Grady Cole Center, 310 N Kings Drive. Doors open at 1:20pm. Admission:  $5 at the door, $4 with donation of a non-perishable canned good for Second Harvest Food Bank.

Step teams are invited to "step-up" and compete from recreation centers, community groups, churches, schools and colleges. This competition is open to the first 25 teams to submit an entry packet. Deadline for submission is April 30. Participants may range in age from youngsters (as young as 4 years) to adults of any age. Teams may be comprised of all male, all female, or co-ed steppers, with trophies awarded to the top three finishers in each category. 

The entry fee is $5 for each step team member. For entry packet and rules, or for more information, contact Dora DuBose at the Ivey Baker Recreation Center: 704-353-1251 or dora.dubose@mecklenburgcountync.gov.

"This competition will feature an intergenerational combination of movement, soul, history and culture, with combustible energy of complex rhythms, footsteps, sound, spoken word, foot-stomping, hand-clapping, stunts, and entertainment as part of the performance," says Ms. DuBose. 

All managers and/or coaches are invited to special information meetings at Ivory Baker Recreation Center, 1920 Stroud Park Court at 6pm on Thursday, April 30 and 6pm on Thursday May 21. 

The tag line is catching:  "Show your soul…Show your spirit"