Members of Dem Boyz

Moving their bodies -- particularly their feet -- in rhythmic succession, one Rider University student and two former students were among 10 young men, known as “Dem Boyz,” who won a national step show competition, receiving a grand prize of $10,000.

“Dem Boyz,” which also consists of steppers from The College of New Jersey, Bloomfield University and Seton Hall University, performed their step routines September 25 on CBS News’ “The Early Show.”

Team members from Rider are Quesi Lewis of Brooklyn, NY, a senior computer information systems major, and former students Seye Charles of Dunellen, and Akwasi Yeboah of East Orange. All of the steppers are members of Phi Beta Sigma, a national African American male fraternity.

“We like winning, we like competing and we flat out like stepping,” said Lewis, president of the Rider chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. He rode along with the group in a limousine to perform live at CBS in New York City. “We step with high energy. We practice hard, we play hard, and we compete even harder.”

Rider and TCNJ students formed “Dem Boyz” step team in 2003. Since then, the group has won four other competitions. Their winning record led to their invitation to compete in the national competition, “Stomping on the Yard Super Stomp” competition this past August.

The group has also performed for two upcoming movies, “Stomp The Yard,” (produced by Sony Films) and “Step,” (produced by Sienna Films), a Canadian film, both due to be released in January 2007. They have also stepped for noted sportscaster James Brown’s NFL JB Awards program, Rider University’s Hurricane Katrina Talent Show, and Grammy Award winning artist Usher Raymond’s New Look Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on giving disadvantaged children a new look on life.

“Dem Boyz” and other step teams in the competition will also be featured in a DVD documentary that was filmed at Rider in August. The competition will be aired on ESPN on November 25.

“We do it for the love of the art," said Seye Charles, team captain/step master. “ We are committed to maintaining an active role in the communities in which we live. Our goal is to educate our youth.”

The national competition was one of their highest points of accomplishments, noted Lewis. The money will be used to advance Phi Beta Sigma programming.

“The entire experience was very exciting, he said . “I stepped with a cell phone attached to me. I felt the phone vibrate and it was callers letting me know they were watching us on TV. I told them, ‘We are stepping for America.’”

 

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