"Leg Freezes" That Are Part Of Historically Black Greek Letter Fraternities' Stepping Routines

Auburn Alphas, Dec 17, 2018

Brothers Eddie Washington (Fall 14) and Quintin Hobbs (Spring 17) graduation step! Onward and Upward brother!
-snip-
What I refer to as the "folded leg" freeze" occurs from .040-1:12 in this video.

A member of that fraternity commands the stepper doing the folded leg position to "Hold it! Hold it! Hold it!"  

In 2019, a commenter, @jeniselett-stovall6067,wrote in this video's discussion thread 
"I'm amazed he can hold it in that tight ass suit."

In 2020, a commenter, @CA-fh5zt, wrote in this video's discussion thread:
"that’s a hard position to hold he was so centered"

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Revision -March 11, 2024

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series about what I refer to as "leg freezes" during Black Greek letter organizations stepping performances.

This post presents examples of "leg freezes" that are done during stepping performances by the five historically Black Greek letter fraternities that are members of the Pan-Hellenic Council (colloquially referred to as "the Divine Nine").

My editorial notes about this custom are included in this post.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/03/leg-freezes-that-are-part-of_11.html for Part II of this pancocojams sries. That post presents one video example each of "leg freezes" that are done during stepping performances by the four historically Black Greek letter sororities that are members of the Pan-Hellenic Council (colloquially referred to as "the Divine Nine").

My editorial notes about this custom are included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in this post and thanks to the producers and publishers of the video on YouTube.

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LEG FREEZES IN HISTORICALLY BLACK GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATONS' STEPPING ROUTINES
This pancocojams series helps to document the changes that have occurred and continue to occur in historically Black Greek letter organizations' stepping performances.
  

I became interested in the custom of including what I refer to as "leg freezes" that are part of historically Black Greek letter organizations (BGLO) stepping performances when I happened across the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. video that given on the top of this pancocojams post.

By "leg freezes" I mean part of a stepping routine that occurs when a person or people freeze/s in place after making a particular foot or leg motion. This pancocojams series focuses on three types of leg (or foot) freezes, Here are my names for those types of freezes which I've listed in what I guess are the earliest created type to the latest created type:

1. "foot lift freeze"- This occurs when steppers raise their left foot slightly above the floor/ground and briefly freezes (maintains) that position.

2. "raised knee bend freeze" - when steppers raise their left leg with their knee bent in preparation of performing a step, but freeze their leg in that position for a brief time.

3. "folded leg freeze"  - when steppers stand on their right leg and crouch to a seated like position with their left leg folded over their right leg.

This position last a bit longer than the other two freeze positions that I have described. Frequently during that folded leg freeze position, a step team member or another member of that Black Greek letter organization is usually heard shouting "Hold It! Hold It!". Those words are a command to keep that position as long as it is designated to last in that step routine.

I believe that the these frozen leg positions in BGLO stepping routines are meant to demonstrate the step teams' skill (ability to maintain their balance) and endurance. These leg freezes add drama to the step performance and are aesthetically pleasing. I believe that the "raised bent knee" freeze position is still part of some current (2020s) historically Black fraternity or sorority step performances. However, it appears to me from the 2020s YouTube stepping videos that I have watched that people expect the folded leg freeze position to be a  part of a BGLO competition stepping performance, especially toward the end of those stepping routines. 

For the folkloric record, please share additions and/or corrections to this editorial note and your comments in the discussion section of this pancocojams. Thanks!

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DISCLAIMER
The YouTube videos that are showcased in this post are some of the examples of  "leg freeze positions" that I came across in my brief search for those types of stepping videos on YouTube.

Showcasing these videos in this post isn't meant to imply that these are the only examples from those organizations on YouTube or that the videos that are showcased in this pancocojams series are necessarily the best examples to represent how that particular organization performs those freeze positions. 

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ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS 
These videos showcase examples of the five fraternities that are members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (colloquially known as "the Divine Nine") performing leg freezes while stepping. 

Except for Showcase Video #1 and Showcase Video #2, the presentation order of these videos in this post largely reflect when I happened upon them in my search for one YouTube video each of Divine Nine fraternities performing "leg freezes" during their stepping performances.

Video #1 was the first video of this custom that I watched and Video #2 is the earliest dated video with a leg freeze that I've come across to date. 

Showcase Video #1- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. [given above]

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Showcase Video #2 -Stomp 92 (part 2) Alpha phi Alpha, Alpha kappa Alpha, Sigma Gamma Rho,Kappa Alpha Psi

Big Bruh Doc G, Nov 16, 2012

Much respect to everyone who pledged a fraternity or sorority because i understand the love and passion that goes into not just stepping but the true brotherhood  and unity that many do not understand unless you go through the process. 1st you must not just graduate from high school but you have to make it to college to even pledge a fraternity or sorority and this is the message that must not be over looked in order for one to fully understand how many members of a fraternity or sorority truly feel about the art form of stepping!!!
-snip-
The members of Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. perform the "slight foot lift" between 6:59 and 7:00 in that video.

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Showcase Video #3 - Omega Psi Phi

Will Marcus Sanders, Apr 2, 2013

Omega Psi Phi Majestic Psi Psi Chapter @ Kentucky State University set out after crossing their Neos.
-snip-
This video begins with all of the steppers raising their left leg and freezing in place. That freezing position is done at intervals throughout the rest of the beginning portion of this video.

In 2020,@Ace_Capone28, a commenter in that video's discussion thread wrote:
"Hold that sh-t* Ace Dawg!!!"
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this video.

"Ace" is the term for the first person in a Black Greek letter organization line (group of prospective members). In the context of this video, "dawg" is a referent for a man who is a member of Omega Psi Phi, Inc.  

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Showcase Video #4 - 2021 NC A&T Homecoming Step Show | Alpha Nu Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc

The Erick Wheeler, Oct 7, 2022
-snip-
The members of this Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity do a folded leg freeze at 4:37-4:56
in this video. Men can be heard shouting "Hold it! Hold it!" 

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Showcase Video #5 - The Eta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. - 2021 NC A&T GHOE Step Show

12Hunnid Entertainment, Nov 7, 2021
-snip-
The step show begins around 4:00 in this video.

The "folded leg freeze" position begins around 10:06 to 10:16.

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Showcase Video #6 - Iota Phi Theta Fraternity ⚡ | '22 Circle City Classic StepShow Highlights | "The Untouchables"

HBCU Pride Network, Sept 25, 2022
-snip-
The members of Iota Phi Theta do a "raise bent knee" freeze at .035-.046; and a folded leg freeze at 4:33 to 4:40.

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This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.

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