Members of the Kansas City two-stepping community are polishing their dancing shoes because the 19th annual Big Step Off dance competition is just around the corner. The dance competition, which celebrates KC’s unique two-step culture, is set to kick off with a preliminary round July 20 at the American Jazz Museum, followed by the finals Aug. 25 at the Gem Theater.
Organized by the local “Queen of Kansas City Two-Step,” De Barker, the Big Step Off has been a cornerstone of KC’s dance scene since 2003. This year, the top three winners — as selected by a panel of judges — will receive a trophy and a cut of $5,000 in prize money.
“The top couples get bragging rights as well, which honestly probably means more than the money,” says Barker.
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Last year’s winners, Asiel Moses and Ivory Tripp, came to the competition with only a few years of experience and were thrust into the spotlight. Tripp convinced Moses to enter after taking classes and winning a smaller two-step competition. They just wanted to get the experience under their belts and say that winning the Big Step Off has been a whirlwind.
“After winning everywhere we went, people were like, ‘Oh hey, there’s the champions,’” says Moses. “It was almost like we were celebrities or something; even people from out of town were recognizing us.”
Along with notoriety and bragging rights, the two also won a cash prize, a championship ring, and a trophy. Tripp says she brought her trophy everywhere with her for a while, and it even helped her get into places for free.
Barker backs up what the couple says, noting that Big Step Off participants often gain recognition within the two-step community, regardless of whether or not they take home a trophy.
“People end up knowing you even if you didn’t win,” says Barker. “They still respect and appreciate you; they still talk about you. You’re known from then on in the community.”
It’s About Promoting the Culture
But the Big Step Off isn’t just about competition; it’s a celebration of community and culture.
Rodney Thompson and Stinson McClendon had the idea for the Big Step Off in 2003 and tapped Barker to gather the city’s best steppers. Since returning to KC from California in 1999, Barker had been teaching two-stepping classes in the community and working to revive the dance she learned and enjoyed as a teen.
The Big Step Off helped spur a renewed interest in KC two-step as clubs around town filled with couples practicing and swiping a few creative moves from those around them.
Twenty-one years later, the annual event brings together dancers of all levels, from novices to seasoned pros, and serves as a platform for dancers to showcase their skills, learn from others, and contribute to the dance’s legacy.
How the Competition Works
The competition begins with the preliminary round, where dancing pairs showcase their skills in hopes of advancing to the finals. At least five couples will advance to the finals at the Gem Theater. There, the top dancers will compete for trophies and cash: first place gets $2,500, second place $1,500, and third place $1,000.
In the past, there were two preliminary rounds; this year, there is one chance to qualify for the finals. The dance partners will two-step in a group with the other contestants, then again as individual couples before a panel of judges.
The entry fee for those interested in participating is $45 per couple; for those who just want to watch the talented dancers, tickets start at $20.
Contestants are evaluated on five key categories of traditional Kansas City two-step, as shown on the judges’ scorecard:
1. Technique/Style: Judges assess “the command of the fundamental elements of two-stepping. The evident ease and clean execution of the steps.”
2. Timing/Rhythm: This category looks at the “appropriate matching of body motions and footwork to the meters and rhythms of the music.”
3. Compatibility: Judges evaluate the “execution of steps and balance in the showmanship of the choreography – leading and following.”
4. Crowd Appeal: This category asks, “Is the crowd feeling the couple as a whole? Do they seem engaged?”
5. Overall Presentation: This is “based on all categories in general.”
Each category is scored on a scale from 1 (Needs Work) to 5 (Perfect). Barker strongly emphasizes the integrity of the judging process. To ensure fairness, judges are rotated yearly and carefully selected to avoid any conflict of interest or ties to the contestants.
“I get judges based on their ethics,” says Barker. “They must not have any biased opinions regarding any contestant creep into their ability to judge fairly and accurately.”
What it Takes to Win it
Moses says he and Tripp won last year because the two were in synch with each other, and by two-stepping with ‘the greats’ who had decades of experience, they were pushed to a level they didn’t know they could reach.
“Even though we had been two-stepping for a shorter period of time, it was our connection that won it,” says Moses. “If you put your mind to it, you can do it.”
