Second is Twice as Nice: Darrell & Angela Brown Back
Oct 11, 2010
Many out of town couples in the steppin community don’t have an opportunity to engage in a mutual steppin hobby and actually place 2nd behind Tyk Myn and Charnice Simmons in a Worlds Largest Stepper Contest (Original Old Skool) category but that’s exactly what Darrell and Angela Brown out of Detroit did this year! Some people may look at second place as being the first loser but for this couple, their years of tenacity has paid off and pushed them even closer to their ultimate goal.
Tracey: It’s really nice to have an opportunity to speak with you two to find out what has brought the two of you to this point. I can remember when you, Angela, were a staunch ballroomer, Greystone dancer, Latin Hustler and bopper for years. What made you get on the steppin train in Detroit?
Angela: Well it was Darrell that brought me into steppin. I met him and although we were doing the other dances, he decided to show me how to step. When I first-- saw steppin, I just couldn’t get into it. Maybe it was because I was doing all of the other dances.
Tracey: Darrell, I remember when you first began steppin and the one memory that I have that stands out is that you were never one for trying to imitate male steppers from Chicago when so many other men were. What made you decide to be your own stepper?
Darrell: When I went to Chicago and met Donnie Davis. He slowed me down and taught me how to do the dance properly.
Tracey: Darrell, I want to share this with the readers of "I Love Steppin” because I think that it serves as a testimony to who you are as a stepper in recognizing your roots. I was told that on the night of the WLSC, you approached Donnie Davis, who is considered by many to be the chairman of the board when it comes to steppin in Chicago, and gave him your trophy. What made you do what you did that night?
Darrell: It was because of him that I think that we won. I gave him the trophy because I think he deserved it. My opinion is that the guy will teach you how to step. Learning how to do the dance properly should be the driving force of what makes a man want to step. There are a lot of people that are teaching this dance that don’t know the dance. That’s in every city not just here (Detroit). If you have the resources to go to Chicago…go to Chicago and be man or woman enough to go up to that person and say "I believe that you do the dance properly can you show me what I need to do?” Donnie told me when me and Angie went down there 5 years ago, "Angela is dancing too fast man. You know why she messin up? It’s your fault cause you dance with her all the time.” That made sense to me. The men need to get it together.
Tracey: Being in a marriage cannot be easy but to be in a marriage in the steppin world can’t be a bed of roses because of the disrespect that goes along with women and or men ignoring one partner to get a dance with the other. Angela, how do you handle that?
Angela: I have no problems if Darrell dances with other people. Basically it’s a dance. That’s different from being at home. Just from having conversations with people in Chicago, even with some of the guys, "Walkin” is more of an intimate dance that should be done with more of a common partner. To us, we respect that. I would want people to respect that belief that Darrell and I have.
Tracey: Your organization, Another Level of Dance, is one of MANY, here in Detroit. What makes your organization and instruction stand out?
Darrell: Well I believe that our instruction stands out because I think we are more detailed than just teaching someone dance movements. We teach more than just stepping. I want our students to know what technique is, they will learn the history of the dance, how to go and practice the dance properly, where to go to see different dances…the whole nine yards. That’s not to say that no one else is effective in teaching the dance. That’s just our belief system.
Tracey: You guys have been in the WLSC quite a few times. Based on the amount of cynicism coming from Detroit and maybe Chicago, what made you all continually enter the contests?
Angela: To me, it’s all in fun…for one. The other part of it, regardless of what the people in Detroit or Chicago said never bothered us. We feel like we are dancing because we know the dance. There are couples that dance extremely well in Chicago and outside of it.
Tracey: Angela, you’re noted for your "stop on a dime” multiple spins and Darrell you’re known for "feeling the music” and adding an occasional stomp. Drew, Sherry, Ann, James, Feo, Candace and Keesha all know how to do the various dances that we do in Detroit. Do you both think that being able to do all of the other dances is helping Detroiters stand out more now in competitions?
Angela: I’ve been doing these other dances for years and years. Detroit should stand out anyway because of the multiple dances that we do. If they step in Chicago…we step here in Detroit with maybe a little added to it from another dance. If other cities Lindy Hop…we can bop. If people are Walkin’ we can offer Greystone to it…so we can fit it into the dance. We do it all. So of course…yes we do stand out.
Tracey: You’ve obtained second place and inevitably people will argue that you two should pursue 1st place? What do you two say?
Angela: Well. I’m going to tell you that every year, we debate about whether or not we want to get in it or not. It just depends on what’s going on at the time. It’s not top on my list of things to do. Once we entered the contests…we completed the task. As far as Chicago step goes, I think that if you’re serious and want to advance in the dance than you should seek an instructor that can help you meet your goal. If you’re not serious but content with the level you are at…then so be it… but don’t frown upon those who are willing to take it one step further.
Darrell: I like doing the dance, I like being competitive and I like doing the dance properly. As Angela and I continue to grow in the dance, there’s nothing wrong with showcasing what we do and I think what we do…we do well!
