This post presents hyperlinks, titles for. and publishing dates of pancocojams posts about the Philly Bop, Chicago Stepping, Detroit Ballroom, and other types of African American originated social partner dances.
These posts are given in chronological order with the latest published post given first.
Additional links will be added to this compilation when subsequent posts are published. -snip- This post is a complete reprint with updated information of a November 2023 pancocojams post. That 2023 will no longer be updated.
**** HYPERLINKS TO PANCOCOJAMS POSTS ON THIS SUBJECT
Heavy Hitters Taboo, Tyk Myn, Dre, Westside Mike, Drew, Pete
Frazier, Lawrence, and Sherry Gordon get down at Rodney Mack's White Party.
**** Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series on Chicago style stepping (partner dancing).
This post showcases two YouTube videos of Chicago style stepping that feature examples of two men dancing together. That post also includes selected comments from the discussion threads of those two videos.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/boppin-hand-dancing-other-names-for.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post showcases a YouTube video about Chicago style stepping andalso presents selected discussion thread comments from those two YouTube videos about the use of the term "Chicago stepping" or the use of other terms for the same or very similar styles of dancing.
The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are shown in this video. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of this showcased video on YouTube. -snip- I'm using the terms "Chicago style stepping (partner dancing)" to differentiate this type of dancing from other movement arts that use the term "stepping" such as historically Black Greek letter fraternity/sorority stepping, and African American (soul) line dancing/trail ride dancing.
Click the tag below for other pancocojams posts on Chicago style stepping.
**** SELECTED COMMENTS FROM SHOWCASE VIDEO #1 ABOUT TWO MALES DANCING CHICAGO STEPPING TOGETHER
1.@bacoia "When I was in grammar school(many years ago) I would sneak into the high school parties near my home to watch the guys step together, it was something to see.....They had mad skills...."
** Reply 2. @jackiestarr2881, 2017 "They are Not gay because they are doing the Chicago Steppin, you must don't know the history of the dance."
I guess comprehension wasn't your strong point in school. Where do you get the idea that he said they are gay he's talking about society would call it gay but his opinion is that it's two people having fun"
** Reply 5. @kitsolo9, 2021 "Thank you for sharing that. I was beginning to think I had
false memories. Everything has changed so much. When I was in high school in
the early eighties in Chicago the boys used to step in the gym and I would skip
cut class to go and watch. At that time there were very few girls that could
step. That didn't come until much later and even to this day it's normally the
guys who show out and the ladies play it cool. Those men were SO smooth."
**** 2016
6. @BronzevilleHistoricalSociety "This is how I learned to step... watching my brothers
stepping in the front room after we pulled the rug and waxed the floor.
I am four years younger than them... guess what we all still
dance together"
**** 2019
7. @appliancedude63 "I remember back in the day the men would hit the dance floor
and step together to attract the ladies to the dance floor. It's not suspect,
these guys have probably been stepping together for decades."
**** 2021
8. @aquilachefba-ados "They look like they are gliding! Low key remind me of a b-boy dance battle! git it yall!"
** Reply 9. @pamelabraden8760, 2024 "I used to watch the fellas step together when I was a child in the 60s. Actually, they were boppin. Mostly the gang members would be jamming together outside of the record store. My mom and I both enjoyed the show 😀."
**** 2022
10. @mija288 "Yes! I remember as a
little kid SERIOUSLY heterosexual men (I didn't know the term at that time)
would bop together and it was the most normal thing ever."
**** 2023
11. @pinky5097 "I'm from the Chi and I use to see men stepping together all the time."
**** 2024
12. @pamelabraden8760 "I used to watch the fellas step together when I was a child
in the 60s. Actually, they were boppin. Mostly the gang members would be
jamming together outside of the record store.
My mom and I both enjoyed the show 😀."
** Reply 13. @SouthernGent44, 2025 "It's a way for the men to both challenge and learn from each
other. "Let's see what ya got, bruh! Buss a move! Now watch THIS step!"
**** 2026
14. moniqueharwell5061 "AIN'T NOTHING LIKE SEEING MEN STEP! That smoothness does something for me!! 😊"
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Man on Man Pt. 2
ChiStepperTV, Jul 5, 2011
Heavy Hitters Taboo, Tyk Myn, Dre, Westside Mike, Drew, Pete
Frazier, Lawrence, and Sherry Gordon get down at Rodney Mack's White Party.
**** SELECTED COMMENTS FROM SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 ABOUT TWO MALES DANCING CHICAGO STEPPING TOGETHER
1. @thelastdom "This is gangsta....Real Steppin. I know I'm a stepper myself from Chitown. Cold bloodied."
** 2. @robinmbengue4744 "eloquence, class, culture,charisma, gotta love it!!!!! THE
BROTHERS!!!"
** 3. @nkstills "These Brother's are gettin' it done!! They are baaddd!! fo' sho'"
** 4. @TheeQueenBee701 "Them some BADDDDDDDDDD BROTHERS !!!"
** 5. @yappasmimas "If you dislike this video then you not from the chi-and you
dont know sh_t* about real steppin.." -snip- *This word is fully spelled out in this comment.
** Reply 6.@QUIETSTORM43, 2019 "Word!" -snip- "Word!" is a largely outdated African American Vernacular English affirmation that was commonly used in the 1960s. Its generally meaning was/is "I swear that what you just said is true."
** 7. @robinmbengue4744 "dont hate playa!!!"
**** 2014
8. @Mistepper1 "From a Chi-Town Girl to You: This is OLD-SCHOOL STEPPIN and what would be considered the BEST STEPPIN you will ever see cyberspace!!! REAL TALK!!!"
** Reply 9. @earvetta, 2019 "I agree derived from the Swing way before a lot of them was even born"
** 10. @StrongNtrue "Incredible. Brothas connecting on a higher level. This
energy, this kind of bonding should be carried beyond the dance floor."
** 11. @pockahantislee2590 "I'm so proud. As I sit here watchin this in the beginning of
January 2014 during a blizzard. My blood is rushin and I'm gettin chills at the
same time. Only in Chicago where you can find men free stylin' and dancin to
JB's Moneral. I'm proud of these black men dancin in steppin harmony!!"
**** 2015
12. @ms.darmicajanicewhetstone957 "Gay"
****
2016
13. @messenger2102 "Say what you want ...I am not feeling this. But step on."
** Reply 14. @Passingclouds497, 2020 "But it's ok for white Jewish men to barmisfa dance together.
Or The Italian men. But when Black American men dance, the they suspect. So
much bull. Grow up by now.E REAL DEAL, I
REMEMBER IN GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, nothen was popping with the men
steppin, so kool to see this, "
** Reply 15. @keithhenderson516, 2021 "Nicole, who said anything about race?"
Who said what I was talking about had anything to do with
race? it has anything to do with race. And why does everything have to be about
race? We need to stop. Any race with 2 men dancing was awkward seeing it for
the first time."
**** 2017
17. @celesterob7068 "Sorry ! Some of those guys have feminine moves...Not feeling this?????? But each to their own......I prefer my man masculine.......not holding hands or making body contact with another man....just saying..."
** Reply 18. @andreamcgehee5072, 2019 "Brother hood.... I dnt think they gay... Only brotherhood"
**** 2018
19. @TommieDavenport "this is THE REAL DEAL,
I REMEMBER IN GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, nothen was popping with
the men steppin, so kool to see
this, what we got 4 2018-2019, would love to be a part of the next
taping, hehehe got on my practicing
shoes now... let go..."
** 20. @Samiyo "I never seen, or heard of this kind of dancing. It's
different, but the smooth foot work ain't no joke."
** 21. @sherryguine2382 "This is STILL VERY COLD!! PLEASE BRING it back yall like
Frfr👏👏👏👍 " just because its 2o'clock,don't mean
that we haveta stop😂😂😂"
**** 2019
22. @godsbest8405 "I've never seen men dance together like this and hold hands"
** Reply 23. @valerieturks8620 "The homies are just steppin yo"
**** This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.
SHAKEDOWN/Chicago Stepping, DJ Quicksilver Cooley, Sep 26, 2006
Steve Butler and DJ Quicksilver Cooley bring to you the
Shakedown line with some of the windy
city steppers. produced by Steve Butler video directed & edited by DJ
Quicksilver Cooley
**** Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision- August 21, 2026
This is Part I of a three part pancocojams series on Chicago style stepping (partner dancing).
This post showcases a YouTube video about Chicago style stepping and also presents selected discussion thread comments from those two YouTube videos about the use of the term "Chicago stepping" or the use of other terms for the same or very similar styles of dancing.
The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are shown in this video. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of this showcased video on YouTube. -snip- I'm using the terms "Chicago style stepping (partner dancing)" to differentiate this type of dancing from other movement arts that use the term "stepping" such as historically Black Greek letter fraternity/sorority stepping, and African American (soul) line dancing/trail ride dancing.
Click the tag below for other pancocojams posts on Chicago style stepping.
**** SELECTED COMMENTS FROM SHOWCASE VIDEO #1 ABOUT OTHER DANCES THAT ARE THE SAME AS OR SIMILAR TO CHICAGO STEPPING (PARTNER DANCING)
1.@obastan "Yea, this is what Chi Town do.Steppin is all about attitude
and CHi-town is so full of it is Stankin, I been all over the USA and believe
me when i say this, nowhere do they throw down like they do in Chicago."
** Reply 2.@kelvinburns4597, 2020 "Detroit has a ballroom dance out of this world and a walking
dance out of this world even though I am a stepper and a papa from Detroit but
the Steppin that these cats are doing today the six and eight count it's
messing everything up I hate 68 count Steppin I like Freestyle Steppin"
**** 2017
3. @hildamabon1098 "One of the best demonstration videos of various styles of
Chicago stepping."
** Reply. 4. @QuicksilverCooley "Hilda Mabon that's what I was shooting to show...the
styles"
**** 2018
5. @charlesbrown9873 "Too smooth!!!!! Looks like DC hand dancing!!! Ya'll do that
thang!"
** 6. @clintonbeck9054 "Back in the 70s and 80s they called it Boppin now they call
it Steppin
** Reply 7. @QuicksilverCooley "Clinton Beck well growing up on the Southside streets of
Chicago in the 80s I knew it as stepping but I am up on bopping also"
** Reply 8. @tangicoleman3306, 2020 "You right in the 70’s we called it boppin...startin that at
skating then went to steppin"
** Reply 9. @kandillishis, 2020 "My Grandma still calls in boppin til this day
lol"
**** 2019
**** 2020
10. @oldskoolqueene "I love it. We call it Hand-Dance in D.C. and I been dancing
since I was 3 years old like this.
** 11. @lindalyte7307 "Back in the day, we used to call it....Boppin.
I have 2 first cousins, one still resides in Chi- town the
other now.. resides in Milwaukee ( they
are in their 70' s now)....yet they can
still" Cut a Rug"( The Old schoolers know what I'm talking about)...." Cut a
rug".....oh yeah👫🏾🕺🏾💃🏿 -snip- "Cut a rug" is an old African American Vernacular English term meaning "social dancing".
**** 2021
12. @gailcooper5660 "This Is Nothing But The Bop... With Ur Own Creative Dance
Steps Added In.... This Is What We Call This In The D......THE BOP...." -snip- “The D”= Dallas, Texas
** 13. @BeverlyDillon2 "Love it now this is real old school stepping it's not
bopping like people do today"
**** 2022
14. @celinawilson8890 "THE REAL STEPPING 2 STEP.🤗😁🖐♥️"
** 15. @TheRayExtra "Looks like the bop to me!"
** 16. @DISGUYROX "This brought me all the way back to my home~Chicago. I got
into this when it was called "jitterbuggin' and still get down with it. I
love steppin with a woman who's real down. won a few contests, too."
** 17. @sunnu777 "Naaaaw!!! This ain't nuthin' but the good ole' East Coast
Hustle!!! :D"
** 18. @bonniemiller8505 "Ok old school stepping I LOVE TO SEE COUPLES DANCING AND LOOKING FLY WHEN THEY DO IT!!!!!"
**** 2023
19. @mauliebella "A little west coast swing!"
** 20. @mrsstrawberryluv1 "Yall call it stepper we call swing out 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰'
**
21. @paulettechatman4604 "We grew up calling the dance the hustle in N.Y.🤗 in 60's"
** 22. @1955jc "real 100% chicago steppin, they all just doin the damn
thing!!!"
** 23. @LogicB4emotion "This cool , it's got the moves of old time THE HUSTLE with a
little SALSA turns. "
**** 2024
24. @ThavrinGovender-se2iu "Here in South Africa ,we called this type of dancing as
Jazz dancing but in the back of my mind
I knew this has roots to the Black Americans who knew how to jive ."
** Reply 25. @micah14 "Jazz was invented by Black Americans, so even it's called
jazz dancing it's still rooted in black culture."
** Reply 26. @GaryPretorius, 2025 " @micah14 black Americans yes...not from Africa"
** Reply 27. @GrenvilleBS, 2025 "We have a cousin of this style in the U.K. known as LeRoc or
Modern Jive."
** Reply 28. @MundiaKamau, 2025 "It's actually the other way round i.e. Jazz and the Blues
were exported from Africa to North America, Central America and South America,
by slaves from Africa who worked on cotton plantations in the USA, and
sugarcane plantations in the Central America and South America."
**** 2025
28. @marccr1313 "Here in Brazil we call it samba rock 🇧🇷"
**** 2026
29. @michaelmcginsie2600 "In the 70s when these folks were younger , it was called the
hustle"
** 30. @edwardsmith8619 "Westside Bop.
Southside Bop. A child of
the 60’s in Chicago."
** 31.@tinapatterson3006 "It's 2026 🎉they still getting down
on STEPPING 🎉♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️"
** 32. @Alice-xp6uw "💙💙💙
Steppers Be Stepping."
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #2-The Origins of Steppin' with DJ Sam Chatman
WGN News, Feb 28, 2023
As we close out this Black History Month, we thought it
might be nice to highlight some Chicago Black history with the godfather of
Chicago-style Steppin'. DJ Sam Chatman joins us now with more on the art of
steppin' and its origins. -snip- The music is ”Sweet
Summer Days” by Peabo Bryson.
**** SELECTED COMMENTS FROM SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 ABOUT OTHER DANCES THAT ARE THE SAME AS OR SIMILAR TO CHICAGO STEPPING (PARTNER DANCING)
1. @wardatkins1320 "My grandparents called it the bop"
** Reply 2.@Stacy-e2q, 2026 "Mine too..."
** 2. @mongrelgtv "this man is legit cuz in the 70's it was called boppin"
** 3. @Audogo-b2g "I am a stepper born and raised in Chicago.
We called it boppin'. Chicago has a style of it's own. The
steppin' cap of the world.
To be honest the dance capital of the world the first soul
train 🚂 started in Chicago.
We do things differently and with style 'cause we cool about
it ."
Peace and finesse the Chicago way
****
2024
4. @shirleymuhammad8936 "In the 70s and 80s we bopped. I stopped dancing for years,
and now it's stepping. It's not exactly the same, but still fun. Thanks Sam!"
** 5. @lmboyd3 "This is wonderful! In my town, there are a few groups who do
this dance style. Our dance style is DC Hand dancing. I also like Detroit
Ballroom. I didn’t know these dances are connected to African couples dancing
like Kizomba from Angola. Genetic memory. Keep dancing and passing it down to
the next generations ❤️🖤💚"
** 6. @deebarlow "I started bopping in high school and as I graduated and live
my life, I became a stepper and it is one of the most satisfying dances I’ve
ever did in my life! I moved away from Chicago. I live in Tampa Florida now but
we even have Chicago steppers down here in Florida is reaching out everywhere.
There is so much fun and I’m 67."
** 7. @speerrituall1 "In the DMV, it is known as hand dancing" -snip- "the DMV" = the Washington D. C., Maryland, Virginia area
** 8. @nataliamiranda7475 "We called it the hustle in NYC😊"
** Reply 9. @sheilaj4084 "similar but not the same dance..."
** Reply 10. @cheryltee4095 "The hustle is fast and involves alot of arm movement. Almost
like an old swing. Stepping is more focus on the feet. So similar but not the
same. Im from NY. I luv both"
** 11. @SamCeasar-s4o "I love in South West Louisiana we are known for swing out
you are born with dance in your blood we don't take lesson it comes naturally
in the black fly out people been doing swing for hundreds of years my home town
is Eunice Louisiana St.Landry Parish. My Name is Sam Ceasar"
** 12. @marianavarro7797 "I had never heard of stepping until that R. Kelly video😊
then my sister dated and married a brother from Chicago and all of a sudden we
were stepping at clubs with him, we’re Puerto Ricans who are aged salsa dancers😊♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️"
** Reply 13. @LadyMargaretSteppin "Im in this video and I was in the RKelly video
I love STEPPIN" -snip- The R. Kelly video that is referred to is "Step In The Name Of Love". Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcLbmWYmnHg for the 2025 official music video for that ic song.
** Reply 14. @reneewood125 "I bet you all adding Salsa moves in with stepping is
beautiful."
** Reply 15. @BBBucksss-zq9yg "Steppin and New York salsa are descendants of jazz dance
variations"
** 16. @thetruthspeaker5101 "NYC it is The Hustle"
** Reply 17. @LashidReceipts "No, the HUSTLE is not the same as Chicago boppin/steppin'
(although similar), which goes back to the 40s/50s ..and remember, SOUL TRAIN
came out of Chicago."
** Reply 18. @BBBucksss-zq9yg, 2025 "Respectfully, a lot of this came out of 1920s/30s Black
America!"
** 19. @winniejohnson5559 "I see similarities within Cuban salsa or salsa period ..
cool .. steppin has a vibe of class and cool 😊"
** Reply 20. @BBBucksss-zq9yg, 2025 "Cubans love jazz/jive dancing.
** 21. @wack8589 "That looks like the hustle"
** Reply 22. @yvettea7253 "Yes, except slower and smoother."
** 23. @jefferybingham15 "He is (The Godfather of Stepping) but i feel he left out
part of the history . Boppin', (Walking), Then Steppin'/All good baby👍" -snip- "He" in this comment refers to radio DJ Sam Chatman.
** 24. @LashidReceipts "People are comparing this dancing to THE HUSTLE of New York,
but this goes back FURTHER .....and the dance slower, smoother (and cooler,
IMO) ...dating back, further (to the 40s/50s) ...this is CHICAGO - NOT New York
...People overlook Chicago's ORIGINAL contributions for the "bigger",
flashier cities that get more spotlight ...Consider that the Globetrotters
originated in CHICAGO - NOT Harlem ...Just as Soul Train originated in Chicago
- NOT L.A ...and there are those who will make comparisons to LATIN SALSA,
trying to take it back to some LATIN origin, when the origin is really
"AFRICAN" "
** 25. @grandrapladyakaamb2438 "Reality check: 1950's, Englewood, Chicago, IL,- originated
stepping, they called it bopping, incorporating, the style of the late forties
dancers from Hollywood, such as the Waltz and Foxtrot, giving it elegance and
style. That's the truth, Ruth. Herb Kent
turned it into a distinctive dance when
he started the sets @ the Time Square, Charlie Green came later, much later."
**** 2025
26. @astankh3090 "Harlem combined hand dance from the south with Afro-Cuban
music to produce Latin Dance which is now called Salsa. We Harlemites was
dancing since 1932. Praise be"
** 27. @michaelmcginsie2600 "This is a slow version the Hustle from the 70s, so when most of these people were younger,
trust me they were doin the hustle to “This time baby” by Jackie Moore."
** 28. @ozellbaker7188 "We 2 Step in Kansas City"
** 29. @Kemet3.0 "I’m sorry Cleveland is the originator and the official name
where they’re spinning and turning is called ‘Hand Dancing.
Now, with all four doing the same moves.
In Cleveland we coin the term (Steppin)AKA line dancing." "AKA" here means "also known as"
** 30. @Roberto-Antonio "Looks like simple Salsa dancing moves in a smooth,
slow-motion style.. lol"
** 31. @sharonsims7082 "Step on y'all Kansas City Mo has a stepping called 2
Stepping often imitated, but never duplicated😅"
** 32. @katinasaffo5732 "In Alabama we call it swing out!🤗💃🏽"
** 33. @nicoledavis4239 "LOVE IT WE HAVE 2 STEPPING IN KANSAS CITY ♥️♥️"
** 34. @doriswilliams1725 "Back in the day in Louisiana we called it swing out"
** 35. @JohnnyW-v6l "In Chicago in the 1960’s on the South Side it was called The
Bop. The term Steppin’ came some time after that."
** 36. @terridalessandro3412 "i am 78 and did and still do Philly Jitterbug - I had no
problem picking up the bop. have done
soul line dancing to. just love to dance
!"
** 37. @promayes8186 "I'm glad he explained Chicago style of Stepping. I'm a
Southern Belle so I grew up seeing my parents do what some people in the South
call hand dancing and which is really the same thing it just has more of a
stroll style while stepping . But I do love the swag that Chicago has on it.
And these couple is so classy and dressed. So nice! I love it"
**** 2026
38. @angelicanegron3292 "Yessss! My kinda dancing. My mom taught me how to step when
I was a lil girl & she taught me that back in her day it was called Bop
instead'
**** This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series on Chicago Stepping (partner dancing).
Just Let Me Ride! DC: Kentavion Wadsworth #linedance
#linedancing #linedancelessons
@And5678LineDanceClass, Sep 11, 2025
Music: "Just Let Me Ride" by Ms. Jody
**** Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on Southern Soul singer Ms. Jody, with a focus on her 2012 song "Just Let Me Ride".
This post showcases five YouTube videos of African American young adults line dancing to Ms. Jody's "Let Me Ride" record. Four of these videos feature the follow the leader, single file formation. The remaining video features people dancing in the standard soul line dancing formation that consists of horizontal lines.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/information-about-queen-of-southern.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post showcases a YouTube video of Ms. Jody singing "Let Me Ride" and presents two excerpts of essays about Ms. Jody that I found in Southern Soul R&B.com but which that editor indicated were originally published in Daddy B. Nice's Album Reviews.
The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Ms. Jody for her musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the the videographers and the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
**** ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS
The videos in this pancocojams post are presented in no particular order. Numbers are given for referencing purposes only.
