Louisiana State University | Wild Out Wednesday | 4-22-2026
Verb, April 23, 2026
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Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision- August 31, 2026
This pancocojams post presents an overview of historically Black (African American) Greek letter fraternity and sorority strolling.
The content of this post is presented for historical and socio-cultural purposes.
I'm publishing this post because I couldn't find any detailed history and/or descriptions online about this subject. Also, it appears to me that there's quite a bit of confusion online between the performance art of historically Black Greek letter fraternity/sorority stepping and the performance art of historically Black Greek letter fraternity/sorority strolling.
Additions and corrections to this essay are very welcome.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/02/pancocojams-posts-about-historically.html for the pancocojams post entitled "Pancocojams Posts About Historically African American (Black) Greek Letter Fraternity & Sorority Strolling".
Also, click the tag below to find links for pancocojams posts about fraternity and sorority stepping. .
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AN OVERVIEW OF HISTORICALLY AFRICAN AMERICAN GREEK LETTER FRATERNITY AND SORORITY STROLLS by Azizi Powell, latest revision: August 31, 2026
"Strolls" are loosely or tightly choreographed processional (vertical line) dances that are usually performed by a group of people that are members of the same Greek letter organization, or -in the case of unity strolls- by members of different Greek letter organizations. Strolls originated with and are still mostly associated with members of the historically Black (African American) Greek letter organizations (members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, informally known as "The Divine Nine".https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Pan-Hellenic_Council).
Cultural Origins
Traditional Central African and West African dances
Single file processions are a traditional dance formation in Central Africa and in West Africa. That dance formation is still performed in those regions of Africa (and in other regions of Africa.)
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/a-video-of-traditional-single-file.html for the pancocojams post entitled " Video of A Traditional Single File, Circular Line Dance From The Republic Of The Congo & A Video Of A Contemporary African American Single File Circular Line Dance."
That post includes this AI Overview response to my question (August 29, 2026)
"Has there been any studies about the possible influence of traditional African dances or specifically Congolese dances on the dance formation of European dances such as the Virginia reel or promenade single circular movements? "
AI Overview Response (August 29, 2026)
"Yes, academic studies exist that explore the structural intersection and mutual influence between traditional African dances (including Congolese traditions) and European folk dance formations like the Virginia reel or circular promenades.
Rather than a one-way influence where African movement altered ancestral European forms in Europe, dance ethnologists and historians typically frame this as a phenomenon of "elective affinities" and cultural synthesis that occurred in the American diaspora. Enslaved Africans and European settlers interacted closely, blending structural elements of their respective dance styles
**
Cakewalk
"The cakewalk was a dance developed from the "prize walks" (dance contests with a cake awarded as the prize) held in the mid-19th century, generally at get-togethers of African Americans on plantations before and after emancipation in the Southern United States. Alternative names for the original form of the dance were chalkline-walk, and the walk-around. It was originally a processional partner dance performed with comical formality.
Following an exhibition of the cakewalk at the 1876
Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, the cakewalk was adopted by performers
in minstrel shows, where it was danced exclusively by men until the 1890s. At
that point, Broadway shows featuring women began to include cakewalks, and
grotesque dances became very popular across the country.[3] The fluid and
graceful steps of the dance may have given rise to the colloquialism that
something accomplished with ease is a "cakewalk".[4]"...
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cakewalk for more information about the Cakewalk.
**
Ragtime Music and its Animal Dances
"The Animal Dance craze was directly related with the
popularity of ragtime music (improvisational melodies with syncopated beats,
from African-American traditions). There were an endless varieties of animal
dance fads, such as: Horse Trot, Kangaroo Hop, Duck Waddle, Squirrel, Chicken
Scratch, Turkey Trot, and Grizzly Bear. [1] The general idea of these dances
was that dancing couples were supposed to imitate with their own movements the
movements of various animals after which the dances were named.[2]
Both music and dance reflected the vibrancy of
modern, urban influences. The music is typified by Scott Joplin’s rags and made
popular to the middle class by "Alexander's Ragtime Band,” published in
1911. The dances incorporated in the Animal Craze are parts of the Jazz Age of
the 1920s."
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_dance for more information about ragtime music's animal dances.
-snip-
Among African Americans the Camel Walk was another very popular ragtime animal
dance. The adoption of the Camel Walk as a signature dance for members of Prince
Hall Masons influenced the development and popularity of African American strolls
and African American (soul) line dancing.
Click https://lsc-pagepro.mydigitalpublication.com/ "The Rag- Time Origins Of The Camel Walk by Noble Damajo Smith, Rameses Temple
#51, Charlotte, North Carolina
**
Death Marches
from AI Overview
"Contemporary historically African American fraternity and sorority strolls are derived from those fraternity's and sorority's tradition in the 1940s or earlier of "death marches". Here's an excerpt of a Google search AI (Artificial Intelligence) result for fraternity and sorority death marches (retrieved February 23, 2025)
In the context of fraternities and sororities, a "death march" refers to a highly demanding and physically strenuous ritualistic march performed by new members (pledges) during the final stages of their initiation process, often involving synchronized steps, chants, and intense physical activity, signifying the "death" of their old selves and rebirth as full members of the organization, particularly within historically Black Greek organizations
[...]
Cultural significance:
"Death marches" are particularly prevalent within
the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), a group of historically Black Greek
organizations, where it's considered a crucial part of the initiation process."...
-end of quote-
**
Conga Lines
The Conga is both a dance and a drum. The dance originated in Santiago de Cuba (a city in Cuba) by at least 1902. https://passportandbaggage.com/the-conga/
Conga lines exploded in popularity in the United States in the 1930s and the 1940s.
https://www.laconga.us/blog/why-the-conga
Conga music and Conga dances are performed differently in different Cuban cities.
From https://www.laconga.us/blog/why-the-conga
..."In Santiago, a conga is also a sprawling, chaotic, mass of a
few thousand people that surrounds the musicians in the streets. The expression “meterse en la conga”
(literally “insert oneself in the conga”) means to become part of this mass,
not necessarily to march amidst the musicians.
The conga as an informal spontaneous street parade is an essential part
of Santiago's culture. Conga for Santiagueros is much more than a rhythm or a
band: it's an annual ritual, sweaty street party; it's rum, rebellion, Afro-Cubanidad,
arrollando (a gyrating street dance), fights, and guaperÃa (bravado).
Conga Santiaguera is not as well known as the Conga Habanera (which is often called “comparsa” by musicians). The famous (?infamous?) “1,2,3 kick!” of the “conga line” comes from the Conga Habanera.* Even Trio Matamoros' famous tribute, “Los Carnavales de Oriente" is done to a Conga Habanera rhythm.
The Conga Habanera is more famous because Cuba's capital has
always dominated its music and media industries, and therefore shaped
perceptions of Cuban music and culture outside the island. Havana's Conga, like other Afro-Cuban styles
from Western Cuba, is more familiar to musicians outside the island; it has
been studied, taught and transcribed more."...
-end of quote-
*Conga Habenera" = Conga from Havana
**
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conga_line
..."Description
The conga dance style is more of a march, which is
characterized by its distinctive conga drum rhythm. It differs from the Cuban
rumba, which uses movements considered "hip" and shows the sensually
aggressive attitude of each dancer. Conga music is played with a staccato beat
as its base, which gives rhythm to the movements of the dancers. Conga dancers
lift their legs in time with the rhythm of the music, marking each beat with
the strong motion of their body.
The basic dance steps start from left leg 1-2-3 kick then repeat, opposite. Originally, a band member wearing a drum would venture onto the dance floor and begin zig-zagging around while drumming out the rhythm. Dancers would start joining up behind the drummer, forming a line that moves like a snake in an open circle. The line (or the circular chain) would grow longer and the drumming more intense until it finally stopped. The dance has two styles, which is a single line form and partners. The single line is more popular in Cuba.[2]
Western Popularity
Beginning in the late 1930s, the dance became popular in the
United States. With its simple march step, the interlinking of dancers circling
about in single file, and one-two-three-bump rhythm with the fourth beat
strongly marked, the dance was not only attractive but also readily accessible
to US and other foreign audiences. The dance started to gain a foothold in the
US around 1929, when the original La Conga nightclub opened its doors in
Manhattan. It is believed that the La Conga was at Broadway and 51st Street.[2]
By 1937, the conga was well known in New York.
This music and dance form has become totally assimilated
into Cuba's musical heritage and has been used in many film soundtracks in the
US and Mexico.[3] One of the earliest and most successful of 20th-century Cuban
musical exports, the conga lacked the polyrhythmic sophistication of the son,
mambo, or salsa but served to nurture the future receptivity of an
international public to the wider gamut of Cuban musical styles.[1]”…
-end of quote-
The single file formation and processional movements of historically Black Greek letter fraternity and sorority strolls is the same as the single file formation and processions of Conga lines with this key difference- people in commercialized Conga lines touch the shoulders or the hips of the person standing in front of them. However, people in historically Black Greek fraternity and sorority strolls don't touch the person standing in front of them.
**
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HISTORICALLY BLACK GREEK LETTER FRATERNITY AND SORORITY STROLLS
Historically Black (African American) Greek letter strolls have been performed at indoor or outdoor competitive or non-competitive events separate from Death Marches and stepping since at least the late 1980s.
Historically Black Greek letter organization (BGLO) strolls can occur with prior notice or spontaneously. In the case of competitive stroll events (known as "stroll-offs"), members of the Divine Nine fraternities compete against each other and members of the Divine Nine sororities compete against each other.
Strolls are performed to certain recorded music on the yard (a centrally placed university courtyard), or in a university gymnasium during half-time of a basketball game, or at other formal and informal events and gatherings
"Unity strolls"
iUnity strolls" consists of multiple fraternities or sororities performing strolls in their own (separate) lines at the same time. Alternatively, unity strolls may consist of members of multiple Greek letter organizations strolling together in one vertical line, in usually staggered placements (such as a member of one organization standing behind a member of another organization). Some historically Black Greek letter organization strolls include members of other People of Color non NPHC fraternities and sororities and/or members of PWI (predominately White)Greek letter organizations).
More Descriptions of Strolling
Strolls (early name- "party walk") are processions (single line formations) in which two or more people move in a circular manner either straight forward or zig zagging while performing choreographed struts or dance like motions. Unlike Conga lines, strollers don't touch the shoulders or any other part of the body of the person standing in front of them.
The term "party walks" is a 1990s referent for historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities strolls. The term "party walks" reflects the history of that movement art.
The spontaneous nature of early party walks meant that those processions weren't necessarily associated with a particular record. Although strolls now (in 2026) are usually performed to a specific R&B or Hip Hop record, in the 1990s, strolls might not have had anything to do with what record was being played or the stroll could have been performed without any record, but just with the strollers chanting their organization's signature call and "throw" (make) their organization's signature hand sign.
In 2026 some strollers still occasionally chant while they perform their strolls.
The strollers' facial expressions are usually serious, confident, proud, and focused as a way of reflecting the fact that they are representing their organization by performing these public .
Strollers often represent ("rep") their particular organization by wearing clothes in their organization's colors, by throwing their organization's hand sign, and by chanting their organization's founding date and other words associated with their organization. Strollers also "rep" their organization by performing movements and gestures that are associated with that organization such as Kappa Alpha Psi's shoulder shimmy, Alpha Phi Alpha's Ape walk, Alpha Kappa Alpha's holding one hand up in imitation of a mirror & flicking their hair to one side as they look at themselves in that mirror.
People who watch strolls may be silent or boisterous, depending on the occasion. During competitive (planned) strolls, the audience is very loud and boisterous. However, during mon-competitive and/or spontaneous strolls, those in attendance are may be barely observant of that stroll performance.
A cardinal rule regarding planned or spontaneous historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities strolls is that no one is ever allowed to cut through a stroll line as doing so would be interpreted as disrespecting that particular organization is strolling. .
Purposes of Strolling
Strolling provides informal and formal opportunities for members of a specific Greek letter fraternity or sorority(or in the case of "unity strolls" for more than one fraternity or sorority) to "rep" (represent, promote, "big up", show off) their organization/s.
Strolling also provides opportunities for people to dance even if a person doesn't have a dance partner. Strolling helps build group esteem and strengthens the connection that strollers have with their organization itself and with other members of that organization.
Strolling also helps reinforce the strollers' self-esteem and group esteem. It provides opportunities for strollers to "show out" (show off) their dance (strolling) skills as long as they remain on beat and remain in that stroll line.
Unity strolls (performed by representative members of each of the historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities that are presently active on that university campus) provide opportunities for members of different Greek letter organizations to engage in non-competitive activities together.
In addition, strolling provides serious, but also fun opportunities for strollers (party walkers) to enjoy themselves. The seriousness of strolling is suggested by the social rule mentioned earlier that prohibits anyone from disrespecting the stroll line by cutting into that line to get to the other side of a room or an area.
Furthermore, the seriousness of the historically Black Greek letter fraternity or sorority stroll line is indicated by the fact that it is a serious breach of etiquette for non-members of that organization or organization strolling to join that stroll line.
Blowing a whistle while strolling
A small subset of non-competitive strolls that I have happened upon in YouTube videos and YouTube video shorts document the custom among members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity strolling with the lead stroller blowing a whistle. It appears to me that the the lead stroller blowing a whistle is in imitation of the role of a drum major. However, unlike the drum major's whistle blowing, the lead stroller's whistle blowing doesn't appear to signal any movements or directions that he wants the rest of the group he leads to follow. Also, the lead stroller's whistle blowing doesn't signal for people to get out of the way. Nor does the lead stroller's whistle blowing appear to me to be musical (i.e. augmenting the sounds of the record that he and the strollers who follow him are moving to.) Indeed, I can't determine any meaning for the addition of the whistle in the APHIA strolls except for the visual connection to a drum major.
A 2013 video of members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is the earliest YouTube video that I have come across for the custom of a designated stroller blowing a whistle during the stroll. I I don't know if this is that is the earliest date for that custom among Alphas and I also don't know if any other historically African American Greek letter fraternities or sororities have the same custom of a lead stroller or any other person in that strolling group blowing a whistle.
Please share any information that you know about that custom of blowing whistles while strolling as well as any information that you know about the early days of historically Black (African American) Greek letter organizations strolling.
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The Custom of There Being Multiple Strolls In The Same Space At The Same Time
From my observation of a number of YouTube videos of historically Black Greek letter organizations' strolling, It appears that it is customary for multiple stroll lines (representing the BGLO organizations that are active on that campus) to stroll in separate lines at the same time in basically the same space (such as "the quad"). However, these separate stroll lines don't cross/intersect each other or combine with each other.
These performances are different from a unity stroll (i.e. when one stroll line consists of members of each of the historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities that are presently active on that university's campus).
The video that is given at the top of this post is an example of this custom of multiple Black Greek organizations' stroll lines performing at the same time.
**
African American Dance Formations That Are Similar To Historically Black Greek Letter Strolling
Single file, follow the leader (circular moving) lines that are performed to a particular record are (currently) a small subset of African American (soul) line dancing. In contrast to that formation, most African American (soul) line dances are performed by people standing in horizontal lines and retaining those line while they move to the music of record.
Most-if not all- single file (circular moving) African American (soul) line dances to a particular record also have standard horizontal versions of those line dances. I'm not sure whether the "standard" horizontal versions for these records came first or came after the single file versions.
Based on my limited online research, it appears that single file (circular moving) line dances are quite popular with young adult African Americans- particularly from certain states in the United States South such as South Carolina and Texas.
On the internet that single line formation is sometimes referred to as "trail ride versions" [of African American (soul) line dances. However, I believe that referring to those formations as "trailride versions" is confusing since "standard" horizontal soul line dances (such as "Boots On The Ground" and "Country Girl") also are regularly performed during African American trail ride gatherings.
Single line (circular moving) dances are performed to certain old or contemporary Southern Soul, R&B/Soul, or Deep House records Currently (2026) popular examples of records with single file (circular moving) line dance versions are "Follow Me" by Aly-Us (Deep House), "Trialride Sailing" by Meechie (R&B/Soul and Southern Soul), and "Just Let Me Ride" by Ms. Jody (Southern Soul).
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABwedTa3D7g&t=1s "Follow Me", Nov 18, 2024 for an example of a single file (circular moving) version of this soul line dance. Notice that there are multiple separate lines that are dancing at the same time in that video.
It appears to me that the stepping and sliding movement routines of standard soul line dancing are smoother compared to the single line formation's more bouncy, foot stomps, and much more sensuous (female) movements.
As is the case with historically Black Greek letter fraternity and sorority strolling, both of these African American (soul) line dance styles allow for individual members to improvise and show off their dancing skills as long as they stay in line and they stay on beat.
The usual attire for these single file (circular moving) line dancers is far more informal than what was and sometimes still is (in 2026) the usual attire for around pre 2024 standard soul line dance classes. In the YouTube videos of standard soul line dancing classes before around 2024, dancers wore clothing that was/is suitable for church or for white collar work. For special occasions such as "white parties" (when everyone only wore/wear clothing that is the color white), the attire was/is usually much more dressy (stylish).
In contrast, females in single file line dance formations often wear small, cutoff, and/or ripped blue jean shorts or ankle length jeans along with a t-shirt representing the name of their Stepper group. Males in those single file line dance formations usually wear a t-shirt along with long jeans or some other informal pants. In current (2026) YouTube videos of these single file line dances it's rare to see dancers wearing a cowboy/cowgirl hat.
The custom of females (and less often males) holding and flipping hand held fans is common in both the stand horizontal lines formation and the single file circular moving formation of these African American (soul) line dances. It appears to me that these hand held fans are replacing the custom of male soul line dancers holding, waving, and doing other motions to embellish their dance moves.
The custom of one (designated?) person blowing a whistle to add to the line dance music occurs in both of these styles of African American line dancing.
While blowing a whistle is sometimes also sometimes encountered during historically Black Greek letter fraternity and sorority stepping, I don't believe that it is a usual part of those organizations' strolls.
As of 2026, based on the large number of YouTube videos that I've watched, it appears that holding and flipping hand held fans isn't a part of historically Black Greek letter fraternity and sorority stepping or strolling.
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