ISA PRESS RELEASE

Contact: International Steppers Association


www.facebook.com
Email: internationalsteppersassociation@yahoo.com INTERNATIONAL STEPPERS ASSOCIATION

PRESS RELEASE
International Steppers Association (ISA) solidifies Steppin history with official ceremony in the Washington DC Metro area
Chicago’s urban based dance movement is moving
Clinton, MD, June 26, 2010: The ISA is now officially recognized as an organization with the Steppin community in mind. Now a legal entity the organization provides administrative oversight and direct support to 14,000+ urban dancers who travel annually. With over 145 social instructors in its mist the ISA now wants to professionalize and integrate into the larger body of dancers and entertainers. From this concerted effort the dance, its members and fellow Steppers will achieve a richer level of integrity from the international community. The growing population encompasses over 33 cities where over 2800 Steppers dance on any given day nationwide. The collective economic spending base is roughly $1.2 million dollars annually and $42,000 on any given weekend. The cradle of Steppin is in the United States Midwest region. Over 55% of all Steppers live within a two hour flight of Chicago’s million dollar mile. This equates to over $400,000 in tickets sales annually. Further research by the ISA revealed that there is much more spending power from souvenirs, clothing items, accessories, and music product sales. By organizing the community can benefit from ensuring that federal benefits, educational programs and community services are provided for members. “Now that we are formalized, our members can take advantage of tax benefits as full members. We have a collective economic power base and we want to make sure our community is taken care of deliberately from our hard work,” says ISA Treasurer Crystal Johnson.

The ISA primary objective is to train, educate and certify social dancing under one single curriculum that defines Steppin, recognizes its social culture and traditional movements. Not much different from the six beat rhythm patterns of West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Hand Dancing and many others, Steppin combines its basic pattern with an added flair and style unique to its own. Largely danced by urban Americans the dance is catching on quickly. You can see Steppin performed in the movie “Love Jones,” Lalah Hathaways’ video “Let Go,” inside “Ebony” magazine’s 2009 fitness column and featured in Chicago native, R. Kelly’s popular Steppin videos. “The sky is the limit for our growing community. I feel we are in control of our collective destiny,” says ISA co-founder, T. Dweylan Wilson. “This dance goes beyond the urban communities. It can only be shared if they know we are here. A lot of great urban dancers deserve the credit for taking Steppin this far. Now we want to carry the torch and compete at the nationals and in the ballrooms of America,”
The ISA formal submission to the National Archives, Library of Congress and Smithsonian Institute will take place this summer. Formal submission will be forwarded to the World Dance Council (Scotland), World Swing Dance Council (Los Angeles, CA), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO (Paris), USA Dance Sport (Richmond, VA), National Endowment for the Arts (Washington, DC) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (Washington, DC). “I was moved emotionally and yet excited that all the hard work of our parents, family and friends would be recognized. I did not believe I would see this type of collaborative effort in my life time. I am happy to see it formalized in the archives of America’s history books. This is really special,” stated Southside Chicago native, Andrew W. Smith, ISA Sergeant of Arms.
The ISA has scheduled its next International Convention for Chicago, June 2011. For more information on upcoming activities or membership activities, please contact:
President: internationalsteppersassociation@yahoo.com
Membership services: isa.vpofmembership@yahoo.com
 


JOIN ISA TODAY- ENJOY THE BENEFITS
1. 100% tax deductions of all Steppin related expense for ISA members
o (Education and travel expenses, competition accessories, professional services)
2. Annual and Life membership discounts
3. Support youth, adult and community based programs
4. Earn points toward GSDTA Certification
5. Gain creditability from professional and social participation
6. Only professionally qualified judges with stated rules and procedures
7. Standardized Steppin curriculum and training methods
8. Gain critical teaching skills that are proven
9. Increase intermediate and advanced student retention
10. Learn academic based dance methodology according to dance theory
11. Improve your professional and social development by meeting peers
12. Help document Steppin based books, DVDs designed by ISA members
ISA is funded by Steppers on behalf of all Steppers internationally