The auditorium at Arlington High School can seat 1,200 people. On Saturday you would have been lucky to find a place to stand.
Supporters packed the place to watch as some 28 step teams from across the Arlington school district shook, shivered, shimmied and strutted their stuff in a spirited competition that's part of the city's annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.The Bowie Souljahs, a state powerhouse, won first place in the high school category, but the event wasn't just for teens. Teams from junior high and elementary schools also showed their grasp of the performing art."I was in a room upstairs where they were practicing, and some of the little ones were very serious about it," Arlington High Assistant Principal Lisa Mann said with a smile, mimicking a quick move.Superintendent Marcelo Cavazos was on hand to watch it all, and he noted the value of the extracurricular activity."This is a way for students to stay engaged at school in a different way," he said. "It lets them demonstrate their talents, and it brings the entire community together from schools across the district."Other MLK eventsThe step competition was one component of the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sharing the Dream Celebration, which ran Friday through Monday.Residents celebrated the life and legacy of King through events and community service projects. Winners of the annual art and essay contests, as well as community award winners, were recognized Friday at a banquet at the University of Texas at Arlington.The 24th annual celebration also included a multicultural festival at Tarrant County College on Saturday. That night, poets competed for a $1,000 top prize at "An Evening of Spoken Word" at UTA.On Monday, hundreds of volunteers helped spruce up neighborhoods across the city as part of the MLK Day of Service.Worthwhile activityBowie junior Bryce Ferguson didn't start participating in step until this fall, but as a member of the elite program -- among the boys, girls and coed teams, it has won a combined eight state titles and two national championships in the last eight years -- he couldn't ask for a better way to learn."I started thinking about college and I want to get into a fraternity, so I decided to start now," he said after the Souljahs performed. "It's great exercise and it's a good way to meet new people."Coach Chris Caldwell, who also coordinates the districtwide step program, said the competitions are an extension of African-American fraternities and sororities. At its foundation, step is a way to keep old African tradition alive, he said."It keeps college at the front of students' minds," Caldwell said. "It's like football, where guys want to get scholarships. There aren't as many scholarships for step, but there are several out there. It keeps the students engaged."Patrick M. Walker,682-232-4674Twitter: @patrickmwalker1
Winners
Elementary
1. Atherton
2. Starrett
3. Pearcy
Junior High
1. Hutcheson
2. Young
3. (tie) Bailey, Ousley
High school
1. Bowie
2. Sam Houston
3. Martin
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