The Evolution of
THE STEPPERS CLUB

Sarah Teagle, an avid skater and a known high roller throughout the national skating community saw steppin one day; and, after a challenge, pursued steppin. Although Sarah continues to skate, she has now made Chicago-style steppin her first love.

As the story goes…

The Steppers Club, born September 2002, evolved from Roll With It Productions, Inc. (RWIP), an event planning company (founded in 1999) by Ms. Teagle.

Although Sarah could not step, in August 1999, RWIP hosted a Steppers Ball at its first nationally acclaimed roller skating party Labor Day Weekend in Atlanta and has continued to host The Ball.
As Ms. Teagle struggled to start a monthly set, she met Venus El-Fatin and asked for her assistance in promoting stepping in Atlanta and assisting with the business. Later Cori Clemmons and Linda Thomas were added along with Venus’ husband, Tacuma Jawara.

As Ms. Teagle learned the dance, she taught others what she knew. Then, in May 2003 the team decided to start classes every Wednesday & Saturday at Several Dancers Core (Decatur, GA). Danny Stone was the first co-instructor. Later, Damon Phillips, Greg McCoy and Arthur Allen assisted with the class.

On July 2, 2003, Sarah met L.C. Henderson along with Pat Clay at the Crowe’s Nest Megaplex, College Park, Georgia at a workshop setting coordinated by Marie Lesley. Ms. Lesley met L.C. while in Chicago and made a strong request that he come to Atlanta to teach his style of steppin. Present at his first workshop were Ms. Teagle, Cori, Venus, Tacuma, Greg, Damon, and a few other members of the Atlanta steppin community. Mr. Henderson demonstrated to the group his 8-count organized step routine.

That same month, The Steppers Club had its first steppers set held at the beautiful Cobb Galleria Centre. Although Mr. Henderson was not present, the thought of teaching and learning steppin through the 8-count ideology was now indicted into the Atlanta steppin community.

Later in July, Cori, Sarah and Venus visited Chicago and escorted Lawrence Addison (winner of the contest drawing for a free trip to Chicago). They met again with Mr. Henderson and crash coursed the 8-count steppin instruction for the entire weekend.

December 2003, a few members decided to branch off from The Steppers Club to form another club. It was after their departure Ms. Teagle realizes she still had a class to teach and needed training herself.
She called Mr. Henderson on December 6, 2003 to request a week of private instruction from him. Then, realizing she could only retain so much, called back to ask what were her chances of getting him to come to Atlanta to work with a group already established. Since two heads are better than one, more could benefit from his instruction; so, he agreed to come to Atlanta.

Before Mr. Henderson’s departure, he asked Sarah if she would be his business partner. Sarah along with the new Atlanta team (Cori Clemmons, Pamela Nash, Tausha Nash, Willie Nash, Jennifer Pitre, Ron Thompson & Thomas Stoudenmire) discussed forming a partnership with Mr. Henderson to bring structure to the Atlanta class while at the same time assisting each other in growing their businesses.
On December 23, 2003, the thought culminated and Ms. Teagle and Mr. Henderson partnered up, joined their clubs together and became “The Steppers Club & The Steppers Workshop Atlanta." A decision was made that Mr. Henderson would visit Atlanta once a month to build up students, give private lessons, and enhance the co-instructors, helpers and volunteers already working with Sarah.

Today, The Steppers Club and The Steppers Workshop Atlanta are in full motion hosting one of the largest classes in Atlanta, a 3rd Sunday steppers set and a national annual Black & White Steppers Ball. The Atlanta team presently consists of Co-instructors: Anita Aaron, Belinda Braham, Keith Mosley, Ms. Mary Laidler (Momma), Meme Warren, Michelle Alston-Williams, Pamela Nash (Momma Too), Ron Thompson, Tausha Nash, Thomas Stoudenmire, and Tonya Harris; Helpers & Volunteers: Arif Fahim, Cherron Simpson, Chris Brown, Michelle Alston-Brown, & Traci Palmer.

The Steppers Club and The Steppers Workshop are busy broadening the craze for Chicago step by traveling to many cities including various cities in their own states and others to introduce steppin to the masses.

You can attain more information about Ms. Teagle and Mr. Henderson in Atlanta or Chicago or through their websites at The Steppers Club and The Steppers Workshop. Websites designed for worldwide steppin enthusiasts to find information on current steppin events, various clubs, class information, photos, and the history of Chicago-style Steppin.