To conclude Pan-Af week, the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) presented the 2026 Pan-Af Step Show competition at the Talley Student Union State Ballroom on Friday, April 17.

Before the show began, the room was flooded with students, staff, faculty and even alumni. The atmosphere was electric as family and friends greeted each other and, the bass pumped from the speakers playing artists such as Glorilla, Megan Thee Stallion and Future.

Grace Lowery, a third-year student studying international studies, Chinese and business administration, came to the step show to root for her sisters in Delta Sigma Theta. She was also very excited for the event.

“I think it’s a great way to raise money, a great way to come out and support sororities and fraternities because everybody steps differently. They step to different music, and they have different signatures. So it’s a great way to recognize the uniqueness in every single sorority and fraternity,” she said.

It was after seven when the lights finally dimmed, the music faded out slowly and the hosts, Tan Francis and Treezy D, greeted the crowd for the evening. They hyped up the crowd with a fun spelling game and a roll call to give the audience a chance to cheer for their graduating class or for their Greek organization, whether they were a current student or alumni.

The show then kicked off with the ladies from the Kappa Omega Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., taking us to Oz in their “The Wiz” inspired step routine. The group brought their A-game with incredible costumes, props, such as canes, moves and creativity as clips of the original 1978 film played in the background.

Canes are often used in step routines not just as a prop but also as a means of increasing percussion. It offers a starker dynamic for audiences to look and listen for.

Next up was the Kappa Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., strutting out on stage in suspenders and ties of their signature colors: purple and yellow. The Que Dogs had an incredible synchronized routine where they showcased their vocal ability by singing songs together, including a cover of “I Lied to You” from the “Sinners” movie soundtrack.

A “Sinners” scene seemed to inspire their routine as they also had pre-recorded spoof scenes of the movie titled “Sinners Bruh Cut” playing in between their set.

After that was the Mu Xi Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., with their routine inspired by “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” But instead of bringing balance to four nations, the group’s narrative followed bringing balance to Zeta Phi Beta’s core principles: scholarship, service, sisterhood and finer womanhood. They took it a step further by having acrobatic displays throughout the performance that really impressed the audience.

After their performance, the hosts came back out to give the audience a break and an opportunity to get moving as they played popular line dance songs such as “Flex” and “Wobble.”

As “Cupid Shuffle” faded out, the show continued with the Xi Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., and their Nintendo-inspired routine. Their set was divided by rounds, queued by traditional video game sound effects and loading screens, with members of the group, who were all dressed as video game characters as well, being eliminated throughout the routine.

It got to a point where the final men standing engaged in sudden death with their punches being choreographed and on beat with their stepping. The crowd was wild with anticipation as the Link of the group emerged victorious.

It was then time for the Kappa Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., to go undercover with a secret agent-inspired routine. The women of this group were decked out in suits, repping their signature colors with pink and green ties and fierce sunglasses as they danced to “007” by Lil Double 0.

After they had completed their mission and ended their routine, the lights turned an unmistakable red to welcome the men of the Kappa Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

The group, more commonly referred to as Nupes of The Kraxi, had a very powerful routine that was coupled with clips of the group playing basketball while playing a reading of the 1992 poem, “Return to Love” by Marianne Williamson and Harper Collins, which was more popularly quoted by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech. They had also choreographed a part of their routine with canes as they stunned in custom basketball jerseys.

Before the final performance of the night, the hosts came out one last time to test the audience’s knowledge with trivia on the “Divine Nine,” which refers to the nine NPHC organizations. Several audience members walked away with swag and bragging rights.

Last, but certainly not least, was the Mu Omicron Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., which took the audience to the races with a Formula 1-themed routine. Their consistency and discipline truly shone through as they dazzled in Crimson and Cream.

The audience was fired up as they were taken around the track, pit stop and all, with play-by-play commentary provided by two members of the group. As the race came to an end, several members of the audience who were either members or alumni of the chapter stood in race car regalia with checkered flags held high being waved with excitement.

After brief deliberation, the results were in. Alpha Kappa Alpha and Phi Beta Sigma were runner-ups, while Delta Sigma Theta and Kappa Alpha Psi won first place.

Taron Brown, a third-year student studying civil engineering, was a part of Kappa Alpha Psi’s first-place winning performance and he felt great after such an achievement and told us what went into their routine. “During winter break, we were brainstorming and as soon as we touched back down on campus, we started practice,” he said.

Noah Steadman, a fourth-year student studying electrical engineering, had an amazing time watching the performances. “It was really just great to be in a room full of amazing Black talent, and seeing the community come together and everybody support each other. It was really beautiful,” he said.

The love and fellowship that filled the room were of an extraordinary kind. The step show was not simply a light-hearted competition between organizations, but it was also a chance for everybody to come together for a night full of Black culture.