The Manual Step Team, the “duPont Dreamers,” are preparing for their largest step competition this year, The Setting the Stage on Fire Step Show. This is the first year of this competition, being hosted by another local step team, Complex Collaboration. The show will be on April 6th. The step show will not only have local step teams competing, but teams from Florida to Virginia are competing as well. “We have to bring it to this competition, because we’re not only proving to ourselves we can snag first place, but also to every other step team,” Kalyn Maddox (9) said.

The Dreamers have competed in two other competitions this year; one at Waggener High School and one at Seneca High School. In both competitions, the Dreamers placed 2nd. Though they hope every time to win first place, they were content with their place. “We haven’t been competing for a year or so, so second place shows we’ve overcome and grown so much this year,” Charles Buckner (12) said.

This is the last step competition that will be hosted in Louisville this year. Practice will be more strict and organized so they can bring their “A” game. There will a few new rules implemented to ensure they win the first place prize of over $1,000 and the title of best step team. “We’ve been rather laissez-faire about coming to practice on time, dressing out, and practicing how we will compete; but our seniors made it very clear that there will be consequences for those who aren’t abiding by the rules,” Isaiah Prickett (10) said.

Breaking out of their normal trend, the Dreamers will add a Saturday practice from 9-12 AM. This extra practice should make the team more comfortable with the routine and condition them better. “Conditioning is important when you have to do a 10 minute non-stop routine,” Deja Bowen (11) said. “Endurance is key.”