Black Reign

“I’m pretty shy and don’t like the spotlights at all, but Black Reign worked like a switch for me. When I’m with them I turn into a different person, with so much energy and passion”, said Giselle Bookal, a sophomore student at SU and a member of the step-dance troupe Black Reign.

Giselle grew up in two different places: New Rochelle, NY and Kingston, Jamaica, where she spent most of her time climbing trees and learning about popular music with twenty-seven cousins. After studying abroad for her first semester, she came to SU and joined Black Reign.

The step-dance troupe was founded in Syracuse in 2005, but the history of the dance style dates back to the 1800s.

It all started with South African slaves who worked in mines and were forbidden from speaking to one another, but they used body language in order to communicate. As they worked, they used their gumboots and hands to make beats to create both meaning and music as a communication tool. It evolved from gumboot dancing to step and from there it spread, becoming an integral part of historically Black fraternities and sororities during the mid-19th century.

Since then, stepping has spread to Greek and non-Greek organizations alike. Black Reign is one of these groups. And in fact, the only non-Greek affiliated step team on the SU campus.

Now adding up to 30 members from different cultures including Asian and Latino, Black Reign’s main purpose is not about race or ethnicity, but about sharing the rich and dynamic art of stepping around the SU campus.

Asile Patin, a senior at SU, shares her thoughts on Black History Month and how it relates to her position in Black Reign. “I feel like [Black History Month] is cool in theory but it's very randomized in terms of the fun facts and information we receive,” she said. “We can maximize our blackness during that month if we wanted to in terms of culture and activism and stuff—that should also be all year."

Black Reign performed this spring at the Carrier Dome for Martin Luther King Jr. Day to pay their respects to the Greensboro sit-in and its effect on civil rights movements. The team has also performed at the Homecoming showcase, La Lucha’s Café con Soul Food, and the Que banquet to name a few.

The way they move is all about a mixture of intricate movements and a cohesive and interesting beat; every step is unique. Step incorporates movements from African and Caribbean dances as well as military drills.

According to the members, step-dance is not a piece of cake. Practices are about 2-3 hours a day, and four days a week.

“When I first joined… I overthought a lot, but after a while I noticed it’s mostly about feeling your way through it and finding your own style of performing,” Giselle claims. “No matter how sleepy I feel, I still get up and go to practice. I would love for people to come and experience the dynamic we have… Black Reign is a whole family, they’re basically all my cousins,” said Giselle.

Another member of Black Reign, sophomore Kayla Covington, takes pride in her ability to embrace her culture through art. "Black History Month is so important to me personally because it seems as if it's turned into a month not only dedicated to celebration and appreciation but also advancement,” she states. “Even this year alone we got an African superhero, Sade's coming out with new music for the first time in years, etc. As a minority, we get overlooked too much. It's just nice for black people to have time to shine and be recognized."

Upcoming events for Black Reign include a performance in Goldstein Auditorium on March 29th. The group’s schedule is also available on their social media and can be reached on Instagram at blackreign_su.

Photo 1: Black Reign performing Photo 2: Black Reign dancers Photo courtesy of Black Reign