To many students, activities such as choir, band, color guard or athletics are an important part of their school experience.

They drill and practice for hours to compete against other teams, and many say later that the experience made an impression on them.

For more and more students, stepping, an African-American art form with roots in African history, has had a similar impact.

Stepping groups can be found all over the city. Many, like the Jones Tabernacle Steppers and Phillips Temple Steppers, are affiliated with churches and other youth service organizations. Others, like the Kappa League at North Central High School and the Northwest High School Drill Team, are based at schools.

Y-Press interviewed 18 members of these groups and found that they all enjoy the precision and teamwork involved in stepping, a tradition in which participants use their bodies to make sounds and keep rhythm.

"We basically make music with hands, feet, body -- anything we can use," said Megan Stevens, 15, of Jones Tabernacle.

For many, stepping is a means of personal expression. "It's a demonstration of our culture," said Clarence Andrews, 16, of the Kappa League, a leadership development organization.

The church groups also look to stepping to celebrate their faith. "It's a way of reaching out to other youth, about telling them and leading them to Jesus Christ. This is a ministry," Megan said.

Charonique Hampton, 14, of Phillips Temple, has been stepping for about 10 years.

"I like it because it gives me a way to evangelize differently than going up to somebody, telling them about Christianity."

For all members, stepping is a transcendental experience. Like Erica Shovan, 16, of Northwest, said, "I feel great when I'm stepping. It's like I'm in my own little world, with my friends and the people that I'm used to being around."

Stepping also instills self-discipline; dancers often have to keep their grades up, especially if they are on school teams.

"It keeps us from getting in trouble because you have to have a C average to be on the drill team. It keeps you on the right track," said LaDena Matthews, 14, of Phillips Temple.

There is no one formula to stepping -- some groups play music as they step, while others chant or sing.

The participants also disagree on whether stepping is just a form of dance.

Shaunte Davis, 15, of Northwest, thinks it is.

"You practice and stuff, and when you dance, you move your body and express yourself, and that's what you're doing with step."

But Megan said stepping "is more precise and defined and synchronized."

All agree stepping is an art form. "When people do painting, it expresses how they feel. When you step, it also expresses how you feel," said Erica.

Most members see stepping as a form of recreation, but they all appreciate its link to their African heritage. Megan said the Jones Tabernacle team researched stepping's history, and while they use it to spread their ministry, they also see it as a means to share their culture.

"It's an ongoing process, and it can still travel through time. No matter what has happened in the past, this will live on because it's so strong and it's a positive message," she said.

All agree stepping brings African-Americans together.

"You go to different competitions, and we're all on the same page. You know, we all have one thing in common -- we like to step, and we like what we do," Megan said.

"I think it has brought us together because that's our culture. It's been handed down from generation to generation," Shaunte added.

Preparation and teamwork are important for all stepping groups. Most groups practice weekly except when they're preparing for performance or competition.

"We practice a lot, and we just go over it and over it, and once we get the hang of it, then we'll start doing the next thing that somebody doesn't get," said Mikaela Stevens, 9, of Jones Tabernacle.

Erica said the Northwest team practices at least four days a week. "To perform for a step show, you basically have to have your routine down pat. You have to practice," she said.

Teams wear matching clothes when they perform. Most participate in one or more competitions a year, and still get nervous.

"We pray a lot before we step, (then) we just to go out there and work hard and do it for the name of Jesus," said Quinton Mathis, 14, of Phillips Temple.

Perhaps the best part of stepping is the audience reaction.

"It's exhilarating," said Julius Mayes, 16, of the Kappa League. "People love to see young men, young women up there stepping, having a good time, shouting, chanting, cheering, getting the crowd hyped.

"They loved it when Kappa League stepped at the homecoming. Everybody at the whole school just goes wild."

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Gabrielle Bibeau, 15; Felicia Bunch, 17; Amber Patton, 14.

REPORTERS: Jessica Berryman, 12; Cynthia Bunch, 12; Jessika Officer, 12.